Cavaliers and Pacers Clash for Eastern Conference Seed on Thursday Night

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers are set to face off in a crucial Eastern Conference matchup Thursday night, with significant playoff implications on the line. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Cleveland (63-16) aims to secure the fourth seed in the East while holding on to hopes of climbing to third place. The Cavaliers are coming off a strong 135-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls, while Indiana (48-31) edged the Washington Wizards 104-98 on Tuesday.

The Cavaliers hold a solid 12-2 record within the Central Division and have won seven of their last 10 games. Conversely, the Pacers are 8-6 against division rivals and boast a strong 28-10 home record this season. The teams have each won one game in their previous two meetings this season, managing victories on each other’s home courts.

According to the latest SportsLine consensus, the Pacers are favored by 10 points, with an over/under of 234.5 points on total scoring, raised from an initial 230.5. Indiana’s money line sits at -448 (risking $448 to win $100), while Cleveland stands at +348 (risking $100 to win $348).

The SportsLine Projection Model has successfully predicted outcomes for NBA games by simulating each matchup 10,000 times. The model has demonstrated significant profitability, yielding over $10,000 in gains for $100 players on its highest-rated predictions across the past six seasons. Currently, the model is running a 155-115 record on all top-rated NBA picks, returning nearly $4,000 in profits and achieving a notable 21-10 (68%) success rate on spreads this season.

Cleveland will enter Thursday’s game without several key players, including All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell (ankle) and forward Evan Mobley (rest). As a result, the Cavs will rely on the performance of players like Isaiah Mobley and Luke Kennard, who both contributed significantly in the recent win over the Bulls.

Indiana’s success has been driven by standout performances from their point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who in 72 starts is averaging 18.6 points, 9.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. Haliburton recently scored 22 points and added six assists against Washington, demonstrating his pivotal role in the Pacers’ offensive strategy.

Historically, Cleveland has had an edge in their recent encounters with the Pacers, boasting a 10-4 record in their last 14 matchups. The Cavaliers have also covered the spread in five of their last seven games on the road against Indiana and are 5-2 against the spread when facing Central Division opponents.

The SportsLine model predicts that the combined points will exceed the total set at 234.5, and it highlights one side of the spread likely to succeed in over 50% of simulations.

As playoff positioning intensifies, both teams will look to capitalize on this pivotal contest in the concluding days of the NBA regular season. Fans can expect an electrifying showdown as Cleveland and Indiana vie for crucial playoff momentum.