Despite a strong regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves unexpectedly trailing 2-0 against the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. Now, they face a crucial Game 3 away from home. Cleveland played Game 2 significantly shorthanded, missing two All-Stars (Evan Mobley and Darius Garland) and a vital reserve (De`Andre Hunter). However, there is optimism that all three players, including Garland, who has been out for the past four games, could potentially play on Friday.
Donovan Mitchell delivered a remarkable 48-point performance in the previous game and is anticipated to spearhead the Cavaliers` effort in Indianapolis. Yet, Mitchell`s impressive scoring wasn`t quite enough, as Tyrese Haliburton sank a decisive game-winning three-pointer with only a second left, lifting the Pacers to a 120-119 victory. The Cavaliers, who finished the regular season as the top seed in the East with 64 wins, are now just two defeats away from elimination.
Even after falling behind 2-0, the Cavaliers remain the favorites to win the series. Notably, all six of our experts predicted that Cleveland would advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Cavaliers vs. Pacers Game 3 Best Bet
In their first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers also took a 2-0 lead but went on to lose Game 3. While there are key differences this time, such as the Pacers playing at home, they also appeared to benefit from some favorable shooting luck in the initial two games in Cleveland. Although the Cavaliers` injury situation remains somewhat unclear, it`s important to remember they were remarkably close to winning Game 2 even without Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De`Andre Hunter, with some officiating decisions potentially playing a role. If you`ve supported the Cavaliers all season, don`t lose faith after two strange, injury-impacted games. The Cavaliers are battling for their survival, a level of urgency the Pacers don`t currently have. The Pick: Cavaliers -3.5
Jasper Hawthorne