Cooper Albers takes you through his preview, prediction and pick for Friday’s NBA Cup matchup between the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
NBA Cup action resumes on Friday night, as the Cleveland Cavaliers roll out the wine-stained hardwood to host the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Arena.
The Cavs (10–6, 1–1 NBA Cup) have won three of their last five, but look to rebound from a 114–104 loss against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. The Pacers (2–13, 0–1 NBA Cup), meanwhile, look to build on a Wednesday win against the Charlotte Hornets that snapped an eight-game slide.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Cleveland
- Out: Sam Merrill (hand), Max Strus (foot)
- Questionable: Darius Garland (toe), Jarrett Allen (finger), Jaylon Tyson (concussion)
Indiana
- Out: Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), Obi Toppin (foot), Kam Jones (back), Aaron Nesmith (knee), Johnny Furphy (ankle), Quenton Jackson (hamstring)
Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. The Cavs enter as staggering 13.5-point road favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Pacers are listed as +600 underdogs. The game’s total is set at 238.5 points.
Pacers vs. Cavaliers Preview
While they haven’t been the regular-season juggernaut of last season, the Cavaliers have been solid to open up the 2025-26 campaign. Cleveland sits 13th in offensive rating and 10th in defensive rating, placing just outside the top-ten with an 11th-ranked net rating — good for fourth place in the East.
The Cavs live and die by the three-pointer, cashing in on nearly 16 of their NBA-leading 45 attempts per game (34.9%). Star guard Donovan Mitchell leads the charge, averaging 30.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on 51/39/83 splits.
On the other end, Cleveland swipes the ninth-most steals and swats the fourth-most blocks per game, anchored by fifth-year big Evan Mobley. The 6-foot-11 center pulls in a team-leading 8.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a night, also adding 18.8 points and four assists.
It’s truly been a nightmare season in Indiana. The Pacers — just one win away from an NBA championship last summer — were ravaged by injuries and haven’t been able to recover. They’ve stitched together an ineffective defense and a conference-worst offense to produce a miserable 29th-ranked net rating.
Indiana shoots just 41.1% from the field and 30.7% from beyond the arc — both dead last — yielding the NBA’s third-fewest points per game (110.1). Veteran big man Pascal Siakam has been their rock this season, averaging 24.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Bennedict Mathurin has provided a much-needed boost since returning from a hamstring strain, adding 27.8 points and 7.3 rebounds across four games this season.
The Pacers leave plenty to be desired on the defensive end, but have actually done an excellent job of locking down the perimeter. Indiana holds opponents to just 11.8 threes per game on 32.2% efficiency — both top-three marks in the NBA.
Pacers vs. Cavaliers, Best Bet
Going up against what is essentially Indiana’s B-team, Cleveland should take care of business at home and stay perfect against division opponents (4–0). Still, given how heavily the Cavs depend on the three — and how well the Pacers defend it — Indiana should keep this one competitive enough to cover the hefty 13.5-point spread.
Best Bet: Indiana Pacers +13.5 Points (-105)
