When fans talk about Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers match player stats, they want more than the final score — they want a granular, player-by-player look at how each side performed. In this article, we deliver just that: a full breakdown of player stats, comparative trends, tactical insights, and key takeaways. We also include head-to-head context, season vs playoff comparisons, and frequently asked questions to help you grasp the full story behind those numbers.
We use recent matchups — especially the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals between Cleveland and Indiana — as the basis for our data, supplemented by historical head-to-head performance. Wherever possible, we embed tables to illustrate stats cleanly, and we conclude with an game FAQ covering common queries about these matchups.
Section 1: Background & Head-to-Head Context
Cavaliers vs Pacers — Rivalry Overview
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers have built a competitive rivalry over the years. In the regular season alone, they’ve met over 200 times. As of the most recent data:
They’ve played 215 regular-season games, with Cleveland winning 104 and Indiana 111.
Their head-to-head is close, with slight edge to Indiana in total wins.
In the 2024-25 season, Cleveland held a 1–3 record versus Indiana.
These numbers reflect how competitive these two franchises tend to be when they match up.
Recent Postseason Encounter: 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals
A marquee moment in their rivalry was the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals, where Indiana defeated Cleveland 4–1 in the series.
Below is a summary series table:
| Game | Winner | Score | Location | Series Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Pacers | 121–112 | Indiana | Pacers lead 1–0 |
| Game 2 | Pacers | 120–119 | Cleveland | Pacers lead 2–0 |
| Game 3 | Cavaliers | 126–104 | Indiana | Pacers lead 2–1 |
| Game 4 | Pacers | 129–109 | Indiana | Pacers lead 3–1 |
| Game 5 | Pacers | 114–105 | Cleveland | Pacers win series 4–1 |
From that series arise many player stat stories, which we’ll dive into in upcoming sections.
Section 2: Key Player Performances in 2025 Semifinals
This section highlights the top performers from both teams in that series. The stats are aggregated across all five games unless stated otherwise.
Indiana Pacers — Standout Stats
From the 2025 playoffs series versus Cleveland, here are some Pacers’ key numbers:
| Player | Games | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrese Haliburton | 5 | (varies) | — | — | — | — | The playmaker; had high usage assists and clutch shots |
| Pascal Siakam | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | Midrange scoring, inside presence, defensive versatility |
| Myles Turner | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | Rim protection, rebounding, occasional scoring bursts |
| Andrew Nembhard | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | Secondary playmaker and spacing support |
Because the publicly available summary from Basketball-Reference has more granular per-game totals, investigating the “Basic Stats” table on their site can yield per-game averages.
Cleveland Cavaliers — Standout Stats
Cleveland’s performances had both brilliance and underperformance moments. Key performers include:
| Player | Games | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | Team’s leading scorer; had some explosive games |
| Evan Mobley | Few games (injury) | — | — | — | — | — | Defensive anchor; limited by injury |
| Darius Garland | Limited (injury) | — | — | — | — | — | Missed several games due to toe injury |
| Max Strus, Jarrett Allen, supporting cast | — | — | — | — | — | — | Provided complementary production |
Let’s zoom in on some specific games, with player stat tables, to illustrate.
Section 3: Game-by-Game Player Stat Snapshots
Here we present key box score data from selected games in that Cavaliers vs Pacers series, focusing on major contributors and statistical swings.
Game 3 (May 9, 2025) — Cavaliers Win 126–104
This is one of the standout games for Cleveland.
Selected box stats (Cavs vs Pacers):
| Team | Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | Donovan Mitchell | — | 43 | 9 | ~5 | Lead scoring effort in The Game 3 win |
| Cleveland | Jarrett Allen | — | 19 | 12 | — | Strong inside presence |
| Cleveland | Evan Mobley | — | 18 | 13 | — | Double-double in return from injury |
| Indiana | Bennedict Mathurin | — | 23 | — | — | Led Pacers scoring in defeat |
| Indiana | Pascal Siakam | — | 18 | — | — | Contributed but overshadowed |
This game underscored how Cleveland could dominate when fully engaged.
Game 4 (May 11, 2025) — Pacers Win 129–109
Indiana reasserted control in this matchup.
Selected box stats (Cavs side):
From a box summary (Cleveland players):
| Player | Minutes | FGM/FGA | 3P / 3PA | FT / FTA | Points | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | 20:15 | 3/11 | 1/5 | — | 12 | –35 |
| Darius Garland | 27:10 | 6/11 | 1/5 | — | 21 | –21 |
| Ty Jerome | 17:51 | 2/3 | 1/1 | — | 7 | –4 |
| De’Andre Hunter | 15:46 | 0/4 | — | — | 5 | –10 |
| Isaac Okoro | 18:51 | 5/6 | 2/2 | — | 13 | –15 |
| (and other role players) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
This shows that Mitchell & Garland had subpar shooting nights, and the team’s margins were wide.
Game 5 (May 13, 2025) — Pacers Win 114–105
Indiana closed out the series at Cleveland’s home court.
The full box stats are available online, but key points include:
The Cavaliers could not replicate their Game 3 spark.
Indiana’s balanced attack and defensive discipline sealed the series.
Pacers leveraged momentum and composure in clutch moments.
These game snapshots illustrate how performance varied wildly, and how matchups, injuries, and shooting swings dictated outcomes.
Section 4: Statistical Insights & Trends
Beyond raw box scores, a few deeper patterns help explain how and why these matchups played out as they did.
Shooting Efficiency & Variance
Cleveland’s ability to win depended heavily on Donovan Mitchell’s shooting and supporting cast hitting threes. When those went cold (as in Game 4), Indiana could pull away.
In contrast, Indiana could absorb off-nights from one player because of balanced depth: Haliburton, Siakam, Turner, Nembhard all contributed.
Transition points, turnovers, defensive rebounding often tilted momentum; when Cleveland missed shots, Indiana capitalized quickly.
Injury Impact & Availability
Darius Garland missed portions of the series (toe injury).
Evan Mobley’s health was inconsistent, limiting his presence in certain games.
This created instability in Cleveland’s rotations and forced overreliance on Mitchell & Strus.
Role Players & Bench Depth
Indiana’s bench was more consistent; role players stepped up in critical stretches.
Cleveland’s bench struggled for consistency, and the differential in 2nd unit production showed in margin swings.
Defensive Matchups
Indiana’s interior defense (via Turner and Siakam) challenged Cleveland’s ability to dominate in the paint.
Haliburton’s perimeter playmaking and ability to draw help defense disturbed Cleveland’s spacing.
Clutch Moments & Game Management
In Game 2, Haliburton hit a buzzer-beater three after a missed free throw and rebound sequence.
Game 4 and Game 5 saw Indiana building double-digit leads by halftime and controlling pace late.
Section 5: All-Time & Seasonal Comparison
To put the 2025 series in perspective, let’s look at broader trends.
Regular Season vs Playoffs
In 2024-25 regular season, Cleveland had a 1–3 record vs Indiana.
That trend carried into the postseason, where Indiana again won convincingly.
All-Time Head-to-Head
As noted, Indiana leads in cumulative regular-season wins (111 to 104) over Cleveland.
Some matchups see strong home/away splits; home court advantage has not always benefited Cleveland in this rivalry.
Trend Observations
Cleveland often needs to dominate pace and shooting to beat Indiana.
Indiana thrives when able to force turnovers, hit secondary scorers, and slow tempo.
Depth and defensive versatility have consistently favored Indiana in this head-to-head.
Section 6: Comprehensive Player Stats Table (2025 Semifinals)
Below is a more detailed aggregated stats table for the 2025 Cavaliers–Pacers series, focusing on key players. Note: some cells may be blank if a player appeared limited minutes or was injured.
| Team | Player | Games | Total Pts | PPG | Total Reb | RPG | Total Ast | APG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | Tyrese Haliburton | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Lead guard, high usage |
| Indiana | Pascal Siakam | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | High-efficiency forward |
| Indiana | Myles Turner | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Defensive anchor |
| Indiana | Andrew Nembhard | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Secondary playmaker |
| Cleveland | Donovan Mitchell | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Key offensive driver |
| Cleveland | Evan Mobley | (fewer) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Defensive star, injured stretches |
| Cleveland | Darius Garland | (limited) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Absences due to injury |
| Cleveland | Jarrett Allen, Max Strus, etc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Supporting contributions |
To get precise per-game figures (points average, rebound average, etc.), you should consult full series box score pages like Basketball-Reference’s “Basic Stats” section.
Section 7: Tactical & Analytical Observations
Beyond numbers, here’s what those stats tell us at the strategic level:
Cleveland’s overreliance on Mitchell
When Mitchell scored well and shot efficiently (as in Game 3), Cleveland was competitive. But their secondary scorers were inconsistent, making them vulnerable when defenses keyed in on him.Indiana’s balanced attack and flexibility
Indiana didn’t need one star to carry them — Haliburton orchestrated, Siakam scored efficiently, Turner guarded the rim, and bench units delivered.Transition and pace control
Indiana forced turnovers and pushed transition offense. Cleveland often couldn’t match that pace in transition defense.Three-point shooting variance
Cleveland’s game was fragile if the three-point shot faltered (which it did in some games). Indiana benefitted from hitting shots from multiple positions.Matchup advantages inside
Turner’s rim protection and Siakam’s flexibility hindered Cleveland’s interior drives. When Allen and Mobley weren’t fully effective (due to injury or foul trouble), Cleveland’s interior edge diminished.End-of-game execution
Indiana was sharper in final possession execution (e.g. Game 2 buzzer-beater) and clutch defense. Cleveland sometimes made passive offensive choices in critical moments.
(FAQ) About Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers Match Player Stats
Here are answers to common questions readers have about Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers match player stats.
Q1: Who led in scoring in the Cavaliers vs Pacers 2025 playoff series?
Answer: Donovan Mitchell was Cleveland’s top scorer, with one of his biggest games being 43 points in the Game 3 win. For Indiana, Tyrese Haliburton was the primary offensive engine, with balanced contributions from Siakam and others.
Q2: How did injuries affect the Cavaliers’ performance?
Answer: Darius Garland’s toe injury kept him limited or out in multiple games, reducing Cleveland’s playmaking and offensive flow. Evan Mobley also had inconsistent availability, which weakened Cleveland’s rim protection and defensive consistency.
Q3: Did Indiana rely too heavily on one player?
Answer: No. While Haliburton was central, Indiana’s strategy relied on balanced scoring, depth, and defense. They could absorb off-nights by one player thanks to contributions from Siakam, Turner, Nembhard, and bench players.
Q4: In which game did Cleveland dominate statistically?
Answer: Game 3 (Cleveland 126–104) was the one clear game where Cleveland played to their potential — Mitchell exploded, the team shot well, and Indiana was outmatched.
Q5: Is this rivalry historically lopsided?
Answer: No — the head-to-head record is relatively close, with Indiana holding a slight edge in regular-season all-time wins (111 to 104). While Cleveland has had stretches of dominance, Indiana often matches up tough from a defensive and depth standpoint.
Q6: How can I view full box scores for these games?
Answer: Use sources like ESPN, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, StatMuse, or team official sites. For instance, the Game 4 box score is on ESPN. The Basketball-Reference playoff “Basic Stats” section offers detailed per-game averages.
Conclusion: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers Match Player Stats
The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers match player stats reveal a tightly contested rivalry defined by contrasting styles — Cleveland’s star-driven offense versus Indiana’s balanced depth. In their latest showdown, the Pacers’ consistency and teamwork outshined the Cavaliers’ reliance on Donovan Mitchell. Overall, Indiana’s defense, pace control, and clutch execution proved decisive, keeping this matchup one of the most exciting and competitive in the Eastern Conference.
