The Cleveland Cavaliers are ditching the doubters with every win of this current streak, and they go for a 13th straight victory tonight against the Indiana Pacers.
Indiana is one of the few teams with an offense capable of matching Cleveland, but my Pacers vs. Cavaliers predictions see the hosts’ backcourt having the last laugh.
Read on for my NBA picks for this January 12 clash — the first of two meetings between these teams in the next three days.
Pacers vs Cavaliers prediction
My best bet
Darius Garland Over 21.5 points (-115 at bet365)
My analysis
Some of the preseason skepticism around the Cleveland Cavaliers stemmed from concerns about Darius Garland’s dip in form.
There’s no question it was a down year for the Cleveland point guard, with a drop-off in scoring and field goal percentage, but it didn’t take a genius to see there were factors out of his control — most notably, a broken jaw.
Garland has made up for lost time this year as a key cog in the Cavs’ winning machine, and I see another big scoring night ahead here.
He’s fresh off dropping 40 points on the Raptors on Thursday, taking advantage of extra touches while Donovan Mitchell sat out, and he’s hit the Over on this 21.5-point line in six of his last nine outings.
The 3-ball has been good to Garland. He’s shooting 48% from downtown so far in January and drilled four of his seven triple attempts against the Raptors. He now faces an Indiana Pacers team that’s giving up 115.5 ppg, which ranks in the bottom third of the league and offers defensive holes to attack.
That should mean an offensive feast for the Cavs, who lead the NBA in points per game, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. Garland is a big reason for that.
He and Evan Mobley have taken a lot of the scoring burden off Mitchell, and Garland has looked every inch an All-Star this season. I see him shining again tonight and cashing this Over.
Pacers vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
Darius Garland Over 21.5 points
Donovan Mitchell Over 2.5 threes
Pascal Siakam Over 6.5 rebounds
I’m sticking with the Cleveland backcourt for the second leg of my SGP. Donovan Mitchell is up there with the most dangerous 3-point shooters in the league, and this feels like a good matchup for more magic from downtown.
Mitchell should have a spring in his step after three days off, and I like the Over on 2.5 threes here. He hasn’t been quite as deadly from beyond the arc in his last three contests, but he’s still knocked down at least three triples in nine of his last 11 games.
I’m also targeting the Pascal Siakam odds. Cleveland’s giant frontcourt can make it a long night on the glass for any opponent, so Indiana will need Siakam to be active next to Myles Turner.
Siakam is averaging 8.2 rpg this month, and he’s pulled down at least seven boards in seven of his past nine contests, including a nine-rebound effort against the Warriors on Friday.
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Pacers vs Cavaliers odds
Pacers vs Cavaliers live odds
Pacers vs Cavaliers opening odds
- Spread: Indiana +9 | Cleveland -9
- Moneyline: Indiana +310 | Cleveland -390
- Over/Under: Over 235 | Under 235
Odds courtesy of bet365.
Pacers vs Cavaliers spread and Over/Under analysis
- Cleveland enters as a big favorite against this Central Division rival and boasts a 26-11 ATS mark this year. The hosts have also cashed the first-half moneyline in 25 of their last 29 games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
- Indiana is working on its own win streak, stringing together five victories in a row and covering the spread in each of those.
- Both teams have peppered the Over this season — it’s 25-12 for the Cavs and 21-16-2 for the Pacers — so the total has been pumped up to a hefty 239.
- However, Indiana has hit the first-quarter Under in 22 of its last 31 games.
Pacers vs Cavaliers trend
The Cavs have won seven of the past 10 meetings between these teams, but the Pacers have covered the spread in five of the last eight matchups. Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Pacers vs Cavaliers
| Location: | Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, OH |
| Date: | Sunday, 1-12-2025 |
| Tip-off: | 6:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | FDSN |
Pacers vs Cavaliers latest injuries
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