The Cleveland Cavaliers will take on the Indiana Pacers in a Central Division matchup on Tuesday, aiming to capitalize on the hosts' 12-game skid. Cleveland enters with a 20-17 record after a recent loss, while Indiana sits at 6-30. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Indiana Pacers are desperate to end a frustrating 12-game losing streak when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 6, 2026, in the 2025-26 NBA season's Week 12. Both teams come off defeats on Saturday: Cleveland fell 114-110 to the Detroit Pistons, while Indiana lost 135-127 at Orlando. Despite the setback, the Cavaliers have won three of their last four games and hold a 20-17 overall record, going 7-8 on the road.
The Pacers, meanwhile, struggle at 6-30, with a 5-14 home record and just 4-18 against Eastern Conference foes. This Central Division clash highlights the disparity, as Cleveland seeks to build momentum.
Injury updates shape the matchup. For Cleveland, star guard Donovan Mitchell will sit out due to rest, but center Jarrett Allen is probable after upgrading from questionable with illness. Indiana will be without forward Isaiah Jackson, sidelined by a concussion.
Betting lines reflect Cleveland's edge: the Cavaliers are 6.5-point favorites with a moneyline of -231, while Indiana is at +190. The over/under total is set at 236.5 points. Recent trends favor the under, which has hit in two of the last three head-to-head games and four of Cleveland's last five. The Cavaliers are 5-5 against the spread in their past 10, compared to Indiana's 3-7.
Projections from the SportsLine model, which has simulated the game 10,000 times, anticipate a low-scoring affair. It forecasts Cleveland's Darius Garland averaging 20.4 points, with six Cavaliers scoring 11 or more. For Indiana, Pascal Siakam is expected to lead with 28.2 points, alongside five teammates at 11.5 or better. The model leans under the total and has an against-the-spread pick hitting over 50% of simulations.
This game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse underscores Indiana's season-long woes against Cleveland's push for consistency in the East.
