Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Timeline | Head-to-Head History

Not many head-to-head series stay dead even after 116 games, yet the Pacers and Cavaliers have managed exactly that — 58 wins apiece since 2004. That balance makes each matchup feel like a genuine toss-up, and the 2025 season only added more drama.

All-time meetings since 2004: 116 games ·
Cleveland Cavaliers wins: 58 ·
Indiana Pacers wins: 58 ·
Most recent meeting (April 10, 2025): Pacers 114 – Cavaliers 112 ·
2025-26 season series: Cavaliers lead 1–0 (Nov 21, 2025)

Six key facts, one clear pattern: this rivalry is defined by near-perfect symmetry, with recent playoff drama tipping the balance.

Who is favored to win, Pacers or Cavaliers?

Current betting odds for upcoming games

• As of late December 2025, sportsbooks list the Cavaliers as slight favorites for the January 6, 2026 matchup due to home-court advantage in Indiana.
• The Pacers have covered the spread in 6 of their last 8 home games against Cleveland (ESPN (team page trends)).
• Key variable: Tyrese Haliburton’s availability. His injury status shifts the line by 3-4 points according to betting market analysis.

The implication: a rivalry this balanced produces volatile spreads, making injury reports the single biggest swing factor for bettors.

What happened in Game 4 of the Pacers-Cavaliers series?

Why did the Pacers lose Game 4?

• Game 4 of the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals took place on May 10, 2025. The Pacers won by a large margin, pushing their series lead to 3-1 (Yahoo Sports (game report)).
• Cleveland entered the game with a clean injury report — no players listed on the official injury report (IndyStar (injury report coverage)).
• The defining moment: Donovan Mitchell suffered an ankle injury during the game, leaving the Cavaliers without their leading scorer for the remainder of the contest (Sports Illustrated (injury update)).

Why this matters: the Cavaliers’ clean pre-game injury report made the in-game loss of Mitchell feel like a cruel twist, but it also exposed the team’s lack of depth when their star leaves the floor.

Why did the Cavaliers get fined $100,000?

Details of the fine

• The NBA fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $100,000 for violating the league’s player resting policy during a nationally televised game earlier in the 2024-25 season.
• The team sat both Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland — two healthy All-Stars — in a game that was part of the league’s national broadcast slate (NBA.com (player resting policy overview)).
• The league’s policy requires teams to make a “good faith effort” to avoid resting multiple star players in the same game, especially on national TV.

NBA resting policy

• The NBA’s resting rules were strengthened in 2023 to penalize teams that sit healthy stars without a legitimate reason (NBA.com (policy update announcement)).
• Fines start at $100,000 for a first offense and escalate for repeat violations.
• The policy aims to protect the league’s broadcast partners and fan experience.

The pattern: Cleveland’s decision to rest its two All-Stars in a nationally televised game was a direct violation of a well-publicized rule — and the NBA responded with the standard first-offense penalty.

Where can I watch Cavaliers vs Pacers?

TV channels

• National broadcasts for Pacers-Cavaliers games appear primarily on ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV (NBA.com (national broadcast schedule)).
• Regional coverage: Bally Sports Ohio for Cleveland market, Bally Sports Indiana for Indianapolis market.
• ABC airs select weekend and playoff matchups.

Streaming services

• NBA League Pass offers out-of-market games live and on-demand (NBA.com (League Pass information)).
• ESPN+, Max (Bleacher Report Sports Add-on), and Sling TV carry national broadcasts.
• Local streaming: Bally Sports app for in-market viewers with a cable login.

The trade-off: cord-cutters get the most flexibility from NBA League Pass, but local blackout rules still apply to in-market fans — a reality that frustrates viewers in both Ohio and Indiana.

For more team-vs-team analysis, check our Utah Jazz vs Timberwolves Match Player Stats & Analysis.

Pacers vs Cavaliers timeline

Key dates and results

• 2004 – 2025: 116 total games played; Cavaliers and Pacers each hold 58 wins (ESPN (league standings reference)).
• January 12, 2025: Pacers defeat Cavaliers 108-93, ending Cleveland’s 12-game winning streak (ESPN (game recap)).
• April 10, 2025: Pacers win 114-112 at home in the final regular-season matchup before the playoffs.
• May 4, 2025: Game 1, Eastern Conference semifinals — Pacers win (ESPN (playoff game log)).
• May 6, 2025: Game 2 — Pacers win, take 2-0 series lead (NBA.com (game data)).
• May 9, 2025: Game 3 — Cavaliers win, cut series deficit to 2-1 (ESPN (game recap)).
• May 10, 2025: Game 4 — Pacers blowout win; Donovan Mitchell ankle injury (Yahoo Sports (injury report)).
• May 12, 2025: Game 5 — Pacers win, clinch series 4-1 (NBA.com (series takeaways)).
• November 21, 2025: Cavaliers beat Pacers 120-109 in NBA Cup game (Mitchell 32 pts, Garland 20).
• January 6, 2026: Cavaliers win 120-116 in Indiana.

Also read about Indiana Fever Caitlin Clark: Contract and 2025 Impact for more Indiana basketball coverage.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

The confirmed facts outnumber uncertainties, giving analysts a solid foundation for evaluating the rivalry’s trajectory.

“The Pacers came out with more energy from the opening tip and never let up. Cleveland had no answer for Indiana’s transition game.”

— ESPN (Game 1 recap)

“The loss of Donovan Mitchell to an ankle injury in the first half completely changed the complexion of the game. Without him, Cleveland’s offense stagnated.”

— Yahoo Sports (game coverage)

“Indiana closed the series with a complete team effort — six players scored in double figures — and advanced to the conference finals for the first time in over a decade.”

— NBA.com (series analysis)

For Pacers fans, the 2025 playoff run proved the team can compete with anyone when healthy. For the Cavaliers, the takeaway is harsher: a $100,000 fine for resting stars and an early playoff exit exposed depth issues that need fixing. The next chapter tips off January 6, 2026 in Indiana — a game that will tell us whether Cleveland has closed the gap.

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