Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Preview (12/29/22): Prediction, Starting Lineups, Odds

Cleveland and Indiana will face off for the second time this season on Thursday night. The first time these two teams played, the Cavaliers won by six points at home; however, this second game will be played in Indianapolis. Take a look below at an in-depth analysis that features our betting picks and predictions, updated odds, injury news, and projected starting lineups.

Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Indiana Pacers Betting Odds

The Indiana Pacers are 5.5-point home dogs against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Indiana’s injury report features Kendall Brown and Daniel Theis, who are both listed as out. Theis and Brown are not regular rotational players for the Pacers, so the team will be virtually at full strength. Cleveland will continue to be without Dean Wade, Dylan Windler, and Ricky Rubio for this matchup with the Pacers.

Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. Indiana Pacers Prediction

As far as net rating is concerned, the Cleveland Cavaliers rank second in the NBA, only trailing the league’s best Boston Celtics. Donovan Mitchell is having an MVP-caliber season, averaging 28.5 points on 49% from the field and 42% from deep. Cleveland’s biggest issue last season was that it lacked a primary scorer to lean on in crunch time. They have that guy now and are thriving on both ends of the floor.

Meanwhile, Indiana has been one of the biggest surprises this season. Many, including myself, expected the Pacers to be in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes; however, they are still in playoff contention through roughly 40% of the season. Tyrese Haliburton has played at an All-Star level this season, posting close to 21 points and ten assists per game; he leads the Pacers in their fast pace (sixth in the NBA) and three-point heavy (4th in 3PA per game) offense. Due to Indiana’s style of play, it is capable of winning against top-tier teams. The ‘Cers also frequently win games where they have a clear talent advantage, a crucial component in being a playoff-caliber team.

Indiana kept its first matchup against Cleveland close; it only lost by six points on the road. Now, the Pacers are 5.5-point home dogs, despite having everyone completely healthy. This is a terrific opportunity to jump on the Pacers against the spread and possibly sprinkle something on their moneyline. Cleveland could struggle with the pace Indiana likes to play at, and the Pacers shoot it well at home.

Betting Trends

  • Cleveland is 5-9-1 ATS on the road in 2022-23
  • Indiana is 10-7 ATS at home in 2022-23
  • The combined over record of these two teams is 31-38-1 in 2022-23

Key Matchups

Darius Garland and Tyrese Haliburton, two All-Star level point guards, make up our key matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers. Take a look at the analysis for this battle below!

Darius Garland vs. Tyrese Haliburton

When you think of young point guards who will be All-Stars for many years to come, Tyrese Haliburton and Darius Garland certainly come to mind. In their first matchup this season, Garland finished with 20 points, ten assists, and six rebounds, while Haliburton posted 17 points and 14 assists.

Both Haliburton and Garland have had monstrous games in the past week, scoring 40 or more points. Normally, this matchup would be a coin flip, but Haliburton does possess great size and length, which can disrupt Garland at times. Had Garland not visited the free-throw line as much as he did in their first matchup, his scoring output would have been modest. It’s also difficult to see Haliburton going 0-for-8 from deep again. Slight Advantage: Haliburton.

Cleveland Cavaliers Starting Lineup

PG: Darius Garland
SG: Donovan Mitchell
SF: Lamar Stevens
PF: Evan Mobley
C: Jarrett Allen

Indiana Pacers Starting Lineups

PG: Tyrese Haliburton
SG: Buddy Hield
SF: Aaron Nesmith
PF: Jalen Smith
C: Myles Turner

Key Injuries

Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries: Dylan Windler (Out), Ricky Rubio (Out), Dean Wade (Out)

Indiana Pacers Injuries: Daniel Theis (Out), Kendall Brown (Out)

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Drew is one of the NBA Lead Writers at Lineups.com, specializing in betting content such as game predictions and player props. With a deep knowledge of players and prospects, Drew has an extensive edge in covering everything NBA.

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