The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, seeking a second win this season against a team that ousted them from last year's playoffs. With Indiana mired in a 12-game losing streak and key injuries plaguing their roster, Cleveland looks to capitalize on the mismatch at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Donovan Mitchell's strong performance in their prior meeting could again prove decisive.
The Cleveland Cavaliers (20-17) head to Indianapolis for a matchup against the Indiana Pacers (6-30) on January 6, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET. This game marks the second meeting between the teams this season, following Cleveland's 120-109 victory at home earlier. In that contest, Donovan Mitchell led the way with 32 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, powering the Cavaliers past a depleted Pacers squad.
Indiana has endured a dismal campaign, becoming the first team to reach 30 losses. Without All-NBA star Tyrese Haliburton in the lineup, the Pacers are on a franchise-record-tying 12-game losing streak. During this skid, they've dropped seven games by double figures. Injuries to Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and others have further hampered their once-potent offense.
In the season opener against Cleveland, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, and Mathurin accounted for 79 of Indiana's 109 points, with T.J. McConnell adding 10 from the bench in an 11-point defeat. The Pacers' struggles stand in contrast to last season, when they eliminated the Cavaliers from the playoffs.
Cleveland, meanwhile, aims to rebound from a recent loss that ended a three-game winning streak. The game will air on FanDuel Sports Network Indiana and stream on Fubo. For the Pacers, avoiding further franchise infamy is paramount, as their woes have persisted since their last victory—coinciding with Indiana's college football triumphs under Fernando Mendoza.
