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Cavaliers score, recap vs Pacers | Cavs lose season finale in double OT, NBA playoffs next
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- Cavaliers score, recap vs Pacers | Cavs lose season finale in double OT, NBA playoffs next
The Cavaliers are atop the Eastern Conference playoff standings, and those didn't change as a result of Sunday's regular-season finales throughout the NBA. The teams in the East's first through 10th spots were locked in.
It's why the Cavs sat nearly all of their significant contributors in Sunday's 126-118 loss in double overtime to the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Arena. Center Jarrett Allen was the exception because Cleveland indulged his desire to appear in all 82 regular-season games. Even so, Allen exited the action for good with 11:19 left in the first quarter after starting.
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How Cavs (64-18) versus Pacers (50-32) unfolded can be found below through our updates. But there is also a bunch of playoff information, and all records were updated after Sunday's NBA action.
Donovan Mitchell injury news: Cavs expect All-Star guard to be 'full-on with practice' in preparation for playoffs
Cavs lose regular-season finale 126-118 to Pacers in double overtime
Pacers guard RayJ Dennis grew tired of all the extra time. Dennis made three consecutive shots (two floaters and a 3-pointer) to give the Pacers a 118-111 lead with 2:04 left in double overtime. He had seven of his 13 points in the second OT.
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The Cavs couldn't catch up. The Pacers earned the largest comeback in the NBA this season, rallying from a 27-point deficit in the third quarter.
Cavs playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers eye NBA playoffs with confidence and hunger. Their Round 1 foe will come from the Play-In Tournament
Rookie wing Jaylon Tyson scored a game-high 31 points for the Cavs. Wing Emoni Bates posted 25 points, forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds before fouling out with 2:48 left and point guard Craig Porter Jr. had 20 points.
Guard Quenton Jackson scored 21 points to lead the Pacers.
Despite the loss, the Cavs produced the second-highest win total in franchise history with 64, finishing only behind the 2008-09 team's 66-16 record.
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Cavs and Pacers head into double overtime with score tied 109-109
The score between the Cavs and Pacers was tied 109-109 at the end of overtime.
Pacers guard Johnny Furphy tied the score 109-109 with a putback dunk with 42.7 seconds remaining.
The Pacers took a potential game-winning shot, but center Tony Bradley 's hook against Tristan Thompson missed at the end of the first overtime. Thompson finished with 20 rebounds (he has six career games with 20-plus boards).
Cavs and Pacers head to overtime with score tied 105-105
After leading by as many as 27 points, the Cavs went into overtime with the score tied 105-105. Furphy made a dunk to tie the score with 11.6 seconds left off Dennis' steal.
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Akron Zips legend Enrique Freeman made a fast-break layup with 2:46 remaining to cut the Cavs' lead to 98-97 with 2:46 remaining.
But Tyson and Bates answered with a turnaround jump shot and a 3-pointer, respectively.
Tomlin had 24 points in regulation. A rookie first-round draft pick, Tyson had 23 points. Bates and Porter Jr . had 20 points apiece.
Cavs lead Pacers 85-67 at the end of the third quarter
The Cavs held an 85-67 advantage over the Pacers at the end of the third quarter.
Bates drained a 3-pointer just before the end of the third quarter, giving him 14 in the game.
Meanwhile, Thompson collected 15 rebounds through three quarters.
Indiana Pacers forward Enrique Freeman drives to the basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 13, 2025, in Cleveland.
Akron Zips great Enrique Freeman appears in regular-season NBA game for the first time in his hometown of Cleveland
A former University of Akron star, Freeman entered the game for the Pacers with 9:09 left in the first quarter. As a result, the rookie second-round draft pick appeared in a regular-season NBA game for the first time in his hometown of Cleveland. He also finished with single-game career highs in points (eight) and rebounds (eight).
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Freeman scored his first points Sunday when he made two free throws with 6:21 left in the third quarter, with the Cavs leading 74-51.
By facing the Cavs, Freeman appeared in is 22nd regular-season game with the Pacers.
Apr 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Jaylon Tyson (24) dribbles beside Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Jaylon Tyson scores career high, and Cavs lead Pacers 61-44 at halftime
With Tyson scoring 17 points to lead the Cavs, the Cavaliers earned a 61-44 advantage against the Pacers at halftime. Tyson's previous single-game career high in scoring was 16 points. He went 6-of-10 shooting from the field in the first half and added three rebounds and an assist.
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Thompson grabbed 10 rebounds for the Cavs in the first half.
Guard Aaron Nesmith paced Indiana with 10 first-half points.
Apr 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) shoots beside Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cavs lead Pacers 32-26 at the end of the first quarter
The Cavs led the Pacers 32-26 at the end of the first quarter, with Tyson leading Cleveland with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. Two other Cavs players scored seven points apiece, Tomlin and Porter.
Thompson, who replaced Allen early in the first quarter, grabbed six rebounds in the opening quarter.
Pacers center Myles Turner scored eight points to lead Indiana in the first quarter.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) passes the ball as Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) defends on April 13, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Who will the Cavs play in the playoffs?
The Cavs must wait until Friday to find out who they will face in the first round of the playoffs. As the East's No. 1 seed , the Cavs will open the playoffs against whichever team earns the No. 8 seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
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As outlined in a previous breakdown , the Cavs' potential first-round opponents are the Orlando Magic , Atlanta Hawks , Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat because they form the East's Play-In Tournament field.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) reacts after scoring against the Orlando Magic on March 16, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
How will the NBA Play-In Tournament work in the Eastern Conference?
No. 7 Orlando will face No. 8 Atlanta in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday. The winner will become the seventh seed in the playoffs and face the second-seeded Boston Celtics in Round 1.
No. 9 Chicago and No. 10 Miami will play Wednesday. The loser will be eliminated, but the winner will play the loser of the Orlando-Atlanta game Friday for a trip to Cleveland as the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.
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Cavs playoff schedule
The NBA announced Cleveland will play Game 1 of its first-round series at home Sunday, April 20. Why Sunday? The Play-In Tournament won't end until Friday, and the NBA won't make whichever team emerges from the Play-In Tournament as the eighth seed begin Round 1 with a back-to-back.
The Cavs' full first-round schedule will not be released by the NBA until later in the week ahead.
Jan 12, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) goes for a rebound against Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
NBA Eastern Conference playoff standings
We have the Eastern Conference standings right here for you. All records are through Game 82 on Sunday. The top six teams in each conference automatically make the playoffs. Teams in positions 7-10 qualify for the Play-In Tournament.
| Seed |
Team |
Record |
Games back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
64-18 |
— |
|
| 2. |
61-21 |
3 |
|
| 3. |
51-31 |
13 |
|
| 4. |
50-32 |
14 |
|
| 5. |
48-34 |
16 |
|
| 6. |
44-38 |
20 |
|
| 7. |
41-41 |
23 |
|
| 8. |
40-42 |
24 |
|
| 9. |
39-43 |
25 |
|
| 10. |
37-45 |
27 |
|
| 11. |
30-52 |
34 |
|
| 12. |
26-56 |
38 |
|
| 13. |
24-58 |
40 |
|
| 14. |
19-63 |
45 |
|
| 15. |
18-64 |
46 |
NBA Eastern Conference playoff bracket
-
No. 1 seed Cavaliers vs. No. 8 seed (to be determined from Play-In Tournament)
-
No. 2 seed Celtics vs. No. 7 seed (winner of Magic-Hawks Play-In Tournament game)
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An important note: As long as the Cavs advance beyond Round 1, they would face the winner of No. 4 Pacers vs. No. 5 Bucks in the second round, otherwise known as the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Cavs advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals last year and fell to the eventual NBA champion Celtics in five games. The Cavs have earned home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. The only scenario in which they wouldn't have home-court advantage is an NBA Finals matchup against the league-best Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14).
When are the 2025 NBA Finals?
Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals is scheduled for Thursday, June 5.
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell drives to the basket between Kings guard Keon Ellis and forward Trey Lyles (41) in the second half, April 6, 2025, in Cleveland.
Cavs injury report
With Sunday's regular-season finale being treated like a preseason game, the Cavs ruled out point guard Darius Garland (toe injury management), wing De'Andre Hunter (rest), guard Ty Jerome (left knee injury management), guard Sam Merrill (rest), guard Donovan Mitchell (left ankle sprain), forward Evan Mobley (low back soreness), small forward Isaac Okoro (rest), small forward Max Strus (right knee injury management) and forward Dean Wade (rest).
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Of the injuries listed, Mitchell's issue is the most significant, and coach Kenny Atkinson has called it a "mild" sprain . Mitchell suffered the injury April 6 against the Sacramento Kings .
Pacers injury report
The Pacers ruled out guard Tyrese Haliburton (low back injury management), forward Isaiah Jackson (torn Achilles), forward Pascal Siakam (right elbow injury management) and wing Bennedict Mathurin (left calf injury management). They listed guard Ben Sheppard (toe sprain) as doubtful.
Cleveland Cavaliers broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Cavs vs Pacers game?
Sunday's game could be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network . It could be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs game score, recap vs Pacers, plus East NBA playoff bracket
