Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers Match Player Stats
Introduction
If you are searching for Cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats, you probably want more than a flat box score. You want to know who took over, who faded late, and which numbers actually shaped the result. That is exactly what this game gave us. On January 6, 2026, the Cavaliers beat the Pacers 120-116 in Indianapolis after a huge closing push. Cleveland entered the fourth quarter behind, then flipped the game with smarter offense, stronger paint scoring, and late control from Darius Garland. This matchup was not just about points. It was about timing, rebounding, shot balance, and which stars stayed steady under pressure. The final stat line tells the story, but the deeper player numbers explain why Cleveland walked away with the win.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers Match Player Stats at a Glance
The fastest way to understand these cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats is to start with the game flow. Indiana led after the first quarter, stayed in front at halftime, and still held the edge after three quarters. The Pacers were up 93-84 entering the final period, which made Cleveland’s finish even more impressive. The Cavaliers then won the fourth quarter 36-23 and stole the game late.
Cleveland shot 56% from the field, which was much better than Indiana’s 46%, and that efficiency helped erase the earlier gap. The Pacers were better from deep at 46% on threes, but Cleveland crushed them on the glass and scored far more inside. That mix of efficiency, rebounding, and late-game control turned a likely road loss into a hard-earned win.
| Quarter | Cavaliers | Pacers |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 22 | 28 |
| 2nd | 31 | 32 |
| 3rd | 31 | 33 |
| 4th | 36 | 23 |
| Final | 120 | 116 |
This quarter breakdown comes from ESPN’s box score for the January 6, 2026 game.
Complete Team Stats Table
A full read of the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats gets much clearer when you compare the teams side by side. Cleveland did not win because it protected the ball better. In fact, the Cavaliers had 19 turnovers, while Indiana had only 14. Cleveland won because it was more powerful where it mattered most. The Cavs grabbed 48 rebounds to Indiana’s 32, owned the paint 64-42, and still created 33 assists on 49 made field goals. Indiana shot the three well, but the Pacers could not match Cleveland’s inside pressure or physical rebounding.
That is the blunt truth of this game. If you only look at the final score, you miss the real difference. The real difference was shot quality, second-chance control, and a frontcourt that kept leaning on Indiana until the game cracked open.
| Team | FG | FG% | 3PT | 3PT% | FT | FT% | REB | OREB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | Points in Paint | Fast Break Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 49-88 | 56% | 10-26 | 38% | 12-18 | 67% | 48 | 10 | 33 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 64 | 12 |
| Indiana Pacers | 43-93 | 46% | 16-35 | 46% | 14-19 | 74% | 32 | 7 | 32 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 42 | 9 |
These team totals use ESPN’s matchup and box score data from the same game.
Cleveland Cavaliers Full Player Stats
The most useful part of cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats is seeing how balanced Cleveland was. Garland led the way, but he did not carry a weak group. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley gave the Cavaliers power, Sam Merrill stretched the floor, and Cleveland’s bench added smart support. The big hidden number is that the Cavs got meaningful production from almost everyone who played. Craig Porter Jr. had 9 assists and 9 rebounds, which is a massive all-around bench contribution.
De’Andre Hunter added 12 points and 9 rebounds, while Nae’Qwan Tomlin gave efficient minutes and a strong plus-minus. This was not a one-man show. It was a layered performance, and that is exactly why Cleveland survived despite committing more turnovers than Indiana.
| Cavaliers Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean Wade | 8 | 3 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
| Jarrett Allen | 34 | 19 | 8-13 | 0-1 | 3-6 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | +3 |
| Evan Mobley | 36 | 20 | 8-16 | 0-3 | 4-4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | -1 |
| Sam Merrill | 31 | 19 | 6-12 | 6-10 | 1-2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +5 |
| Darius Garland | 33 | 29 | 14-23 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 |
| De’Andre Hunter | 22 | 12 | 5-9 | 0-1 | 2-2 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | +2 |
| Nae’Qwan Tomlin | 21 | 7 | 3-5 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +10 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 27 | 3 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -5 |
| Craig Porter Jr. | 28 | 8 | 3-6 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | +7 |
These Cleveland player numbers come directly from ESPN’s box score.
Indiana Pacers Full Player Stats
The cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats also show that Indiana did a lot of things well before the finish collapsed. The Pacers had multiple strong performances. Pascal Siakam scored 22 points, Jay Huff added 20, and Andrew Nembhard ran the offense with 11 assists. Johnny Furphy pulled down 11 rebounds, and the Pacers hit 16 threes as a team. So no, this was not some lazy, lifeless Indiana effort.
The problem was that their good numbers were not strong enough in the right areas. Their rebounding was weak, their paint defense bent too often, and they did not hold up once Cleveland raised the pressure in the fourth quarter. The box score makes that clear. Indiana had production, but it lacked control when the game turned sharp and physical.
| Pacers Player | MIN | PTS | FG | 3PT | FT | REB | AST | TO | STL | BLK | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pascal Siakam | 35 | 22 | 9-23 | 0-1 | 4-5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -3 |
| Jay Huff | 31 | 20 | 7-10 | 4-7 | 2-2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -14 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 30 | 15 | 6-12 | 1-2 | 2-4 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 33 | 14 | 5-17 | 3-7 | 1-2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +8 |
| Johnny Furphy | 31 | 9 | 4-6 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +3 |
| Jarace Walker | 18 | 10 | 4-7 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -4 |
| Micah Potter | 17 | 11 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 5-6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +10 |
| T.J. McConnell | 18 | 7 | 3-8 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -4 |
| Ethan Thompson | 9 | 2 | 1-3 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -10 |
| Ben Sheppard | 19 | 6 | 2-3 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -6 |
These Indiana player numbers come from ESPN’s official box score for the game.
Darius Garland Took Control When the Game Was Slipping
Any honest reading of the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats starts with Darius Garland. He finished with 29 points on 14-of-23 shooting and added 6 assists with zero turnovers. That last number matters. A lead guard scoring that much while not giving the ball away is a huge reason a comeback works. Even more important, ESPN’s recap notes that Garland scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, which tells you exactly when he did his damage.
He was not chasing stats in safe moments. He was solving problems late. That is the difference between a nice scoring night and a winning scoring night. Garland changed the pace, settled Cleveland down, and punished Indiana when the pressure rose. He was the cleanest closer on the floor, and the game turned with him.
Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley Owned the Interior
One reason the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats favor Cleveland so heavily in the key areas is the frontcourt work from Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Allen posted 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Mobley added 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks. Together, they gave Cleveland 39 points and steady size around the rim.
That mattered because the Cavaliers outscored Indiana 64-42 in the paint and won the rebounding battle by 16 boards. Those are not random swings. Those are signs of physical control. Indiana had some useful big-man moments, especially from Jay Huff, but Cleveland’s bigs were more complete. Allen finished possessions, Mobley helped on both ends, and the Pacers simply did not have enough interior answers once the game tightened late.
Sam Merrill and the Secondary Scoring Changed the Shape of the Game
The best cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats are not always the headline numbers. Sometimes the winning edge sits with the supporting cast, and Sam Merrill is the clear example here. He scored 19 points and hit 6 of 10 from three, which forced Indiana to respect Cleveland on the perimeter. That opened more space for Garland and the frontcourt.
The bench also mattered more than casual readers will notice. De’Andre Hunter added 12 points and 9 rebounds, Craig Porter Jr. stuffed the stat sheet with 8 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin posted a team-best +10. That is serious bench value. Cleveland did not just get star production. It got smart, winning support in the exact places that turn close road games into real victories.
Pacers Had Enough Shot-Making but Not Enough Control
The frustrating part for Indiana is that these cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats are not ugly on offense. The Pacers made 16 threes, shot 46% from deep, and had 32 assists, which usually suggests a healthy attack. Pascal Siakam scored 22, Jay Huff was extremely efficient with 20 on 7-of-10 shooting, and Andrew Nembhard kept the ball moving with 11 assists. On paper, that should have been enough to stay in command.
It was not. Why? Because the Pacers gave up too much at the rim, could not finish possessions with rebounds, and got beaten badly in the final quarter. Good offense is not enough when your opponent gets cleaner shots, more rebounds, and better late-game structure. Indiana had nice numbers. Cleveland had the better winning numbers.
Why Cleveland Won Even Though It Had More Turnovers
This is where the cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats get interesting. A lazy reader sees Cleveland’s 19 turnovers and thinks the Cavaliers were sloppy enough to lose. That is only half true. They were loose with the ball, but they were far better everywhere else that decided the final outcome. Cleveland shot 56%, won rebounds 48-32, scored 64 points in the paint, and still created 33 assists. Indiana protected the ball better and shot better from three, but those edges were smaller than Cleveland’s control inside.
That is the hard basketball truth. Turnovers matter, but they do not matter more than efficient scoring, rim pressure, and rebounding dominance. Cleveland gave the Pacers some extra chances, then took the game back by being stronger and more organized when the pressure hit its peak.
The Fourth Quarter Was the Real Breaking Point
The clearest lesson from these cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats is that the fourth quarter decided everything. Indiana led 93-84 after three quarters, so the Pacers were in position to close it out. Instead, Cleveland exploded for 36 points in the final period while holding Indiana to 23. ESPN’s recap also notes that Garland sparked a late 13-point run, which lines up with the way the game swung.
Once the Cavaliers started attacking with more force, the Pacers did not answer with the same calm. Their offense cooled, their rebounding issues got worse, and Cleveland’s shot quality improved. The scoreboard shift was sharp, and the stat line backs it up. This was not a lucky finish. It was a late takeover built on execution, decision-making, and much better pressure offense.
What the Season Series Told Us About This Matchup
These cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats also make more sense when you zoom out. According to ESPN’s matchup section, Cleveland moved to a 3-0 season-series lead over Indiana with this win. The earlier results were 135-119 and 120-109, and then Cleveland followed with another 120-116 win in Indianapolis. That pattern is not subtle. The Cavaliers were consistently able to score against this Pacers team, and they hit 120 or more points in all three meetings listed on the page.
That suggests a matchup problem for Indiana, not just one bad night. Cleveland’s balance, size, and efficient offense kept showing up. Indiana had moments, but Cleveland kept producing the stronger overall formula. When one team reaches the same offensive level again and again in a head-to-head series, that usually means the matchup edge is real.
What Fans Should Really Take From This Game
The smartest way to use these cleveland cavaliers vs pacers match player stats is not to stare at the top scorer and stop there. The bigger lesson is how Cleveland built a win with layers. Garland closed. Allen and Mobley owned the interior. Merrill stretched the defense. Porter and Hunter supported the push without needing star volume. That is a healthy team formula. On the Pacers side, the warning is simple.
Nice three-point shooting and decent passing numbers do not save you when rebounding and paint defense fall apart. This game showed exactly how a team can look good for three quarters and still lose because the foundation is weaker. So the box score is useful, but the pattern matters more. Cleveland had the sturdier structure, and structure usually wins when the game gets tight.
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