Indiana Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 09/05/2025, 05:46  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 09/05/2025 at 05:48 in NBA Predictions

The NBA Playoff series between the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers heads to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 3 on Friday night. The Pacers have a commanding 2-0 lead against the Cavs - let’s get into the match prediction. 

The Indiana Pacers have got themselves into a solid position to reach a second consecutive Eastern Conference final, having won both away games in Cleveland over the past week.

Indiana started Game 2 poorly, but their pace was relentless, and the Cavs were visibly tiring late, which forced them into mistakes and allowed the Pacers to overturn a 20-point deficit.

Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith both scored 23 points. But it was another all-around effort that got the Pacers the win, with six players ending the night in double-digits.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in serious trouble. They are two games down and missing key players due to injury, most notably Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. 

Mobley was named the league’s best defender this year, and without him, the Pacers scored 105 points in the final three quarters of the last game. Their defence was also evidently fragile in the closing moments of the match. 

Garland’s absence has put added scoring weight on Donovan Mitchell, who, despite putting up 48 points in Game 2, was clearly tiring in the fourth quarter. Indiana went on an 8-0 run in the final minute before Haliburton’s buzzer-beater for the win.