INDIANAPOLIS -- — Darius Garland scored 14 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, fueling a late 13-point run that sent the Cleveland Cavaliers past the struggling Indiana Pacers 120-116 on Tuesday for their fourth win in five games.

Indiana, the defending Eastern Conference champs, lost its 13th straight to set a franchise record in its NBA era. The Pacers are now a league-worst 6-31 and are one loss away from matching the Washington Wizards' 14-game skid for the league's longest skid this season.

The Cavs weren't even at full strength in this one.

Coach Kenny Atkinson gave All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell a day off just hours after team officials announced Max Strus was expected to miss at least another month because of a left foot injury. Atkinson said that the updated timeline was not because Strus had suffered a setback. Cleveland also lost forward Dean Wade in the first half with a bruised left knee.

And yet, Cleveland managed to erase the nine-point deficit they faced entering the fourth quarter. Evan Mobley had 20 points while Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each scored 19. Merrill went 6 of 10 on 3-pointers.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points and Jay Huff tied his season high with 20 points, going 7 of 10 from the field wand 4 of 7 on 3s. Andrew Nembhard had 15 points and 11 assists. Indiana played without center Isaiah Jackson, swingman Bennedict Mathurin, forward Obi Toppin and All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton because of injuries.

Indiana still had a chance to force overtime in the waning seconds, but couldn't tie the score as the game turned into a free-throw contest.

The loss also delayed coach Rick Carlisle's 1,000th win for yet two more days.

Up next

Cavaliers: Visit Minnesota on Thursday.

Pacers: Travel to Charlotte on Thursday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Jarrett Allen vs. Jay Huff (Evan Mobley gains possession)	0	0
11:42	Evan Mobley makes 6-foot fade away jump shot	0	2
11:25	Aaron Nesmith misses 13-foot pullup jump shot	0	2
11:22	Evan Mobley defensive rebound	0	2
11:14	Evan Mobley misses two point shot	0	2
11:11	Johnny Furphy defensive rebound	0	2
11:03	Pascal Siakam makes layup (Aaron Nesmith assists)	2	2
10:41	Evan Mobley misses 25-foot three point jumper	2	2
10:39	Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound	2	2
10:28	Jay Huff makes 24-foot three point jumper (Andrew Nembhard assists)	5	2
10:14	Sam Merrill misses 19-foot step back jumpshot	5	2
10:12	Pascal Siakam defensive rebound	5	2
10:03	Andrew Nembhard misses 24-foot three point step back jumpshot	5	2
9:59	Jarrett Allen defensive rebound	5	2
9:47	Darius Garland makes 28-foot three pointer	5	5
9:32	Jarrett Allen personal foul	5	5
9:26	Pascal Siakam misses 10-foot fade away jump shot	5	5
9:22	Jarrett Allen defensive rebound	5	5
9:16	Dean Wade makes 26-foot three point jumper (Darius Garland assists)	5	8
9:07	Pascal Siakam misses driving layup	5	8
9:04	Johnny Furphy offensive rebound	5	8
9:00	Andrew Nembhard makes 14-foot step back jumpshot (Johnny Furphy assists)	7	8
8:46	Jarrett Allen makes 1-foot dunk (Evan Mobley assists)	7	10
8:28	Andrew Nembhard makes 8-foot pullup jump shot	9	10
8:13	Darius Garland misses driving floating jump shot	9	10
8:11	Pascal Siakam defensive rebound	9	10
8:02	Jay Huff misses 23-foot running jump shot	9	10
7:59	Aaron Nesmith offensive rebound	9	10
7:56	Pascal Siakam misses 16-foot pullup jump shot	9	10
7:52	Evan Mobley defensive rebound	9	10
7:41	Dean Wade misses 25-foot three point jumper	9	10
7:40	Pacers defensive team rebound	9	10
7:28	Aaron Nesmith misses two point shot	9	10
7:26	Evan Mobley defensive rebound	9	10
7:17	Evan Mobley offensive foul	9	10
7:17	Evan Mobley offensive foul turnover	9	10
7:01	Pascal Siakam makes 9-foot turnaround jump shot	11	10
7:01	Evan Mobley shooting foul	11	10
7:01	Ben Sheppard enters the game for Aaron Nesmith	11	10
7:01	Pascal Siakam makes free throw 1 of 1	12	10
6:36	Jarrett Allen misses 9-foot floating jump shot	12	10
6:34	Johnny Furphy defensive rebound	12	10
6:17	Pascal Siakam misses driving layup	12	10
6:14	Dean Wade defensive rebound	12	10
6:10	Jay Huff personal foul	12	10
6:10	Pacers Full timeout	12	10
6:10	De'Andre Hunter enters the game for Evan Mobley	12	10
6:10	Jaylon Tyson enters the game for Sam Merrill	12	10
6:10	Craig Porter Jr. enters the game for Dean Wade	12	10
6:05	De'Andre Hunter out of bounds bad pass turnover	12	10
5:44	Johnny Furphy makes 24-foot three point jumper (Andrew Nembhard assists)	15	10
5:28	Craig Porter Jr. misses 10-foot two point shot	15	10
5:25	Johnny Furphy defensive rebound	15	10
5:11	Pascal Siakam misses 9-foot turnaround jump shot	15	10
5:07	De'Andre Hunter defensive rebound	15	10
4:57	Darius Garland misses 10-foot floating jump shot	15	10
4:54	Jay Huff defensive rebound	15	10
4:50	Ben Sheppard lost ball turnover (Jarrett Allen steals)	15	10
4:46	Darius Garland makes two point shot (Jaylon Tyson assists)	15	12
4:27	Pascal Siakam makes 9-foot two point shot (Andrew Nembhard assists)	17	12
4:12	De'Andre Hunter bad pass turnover (Johnny Furphy steals)	17	12
4:09	Johnny Furphy makes 1-foot running dunk	19	12
3:55	Craig Porter Jr. makes layup (Jarrett Allen assists)	19	14
3:37	Craig Porter Jr. personal foul	19	14
3:37	Jarace Walker enters the game for Andrew Nembhard	19	14
3:37	Aaron Nesmith enters the game for Johnny Furphy	19	14
3:37	T.J. McConnell enters the game for Pascal Siakam	19	14
3:37	Evan Mobley enters the game for Darius Garland	19	14
3:37	Sam Merrill enters the game for Jarrett Allen	19	14
3:37	Micah Potter enters the game for Jay Huff	19	14
3:29	Micah Potter misses 22-foot three point jumper	19	14
3:22	Aaron Nesmith offensive rebound	19	14
3:22	Aaron Nesmith makes tip shot	21	14
3:12	De'Andre Hunter misses 8-foot turnaround jump shot	21	14
3:09	Micah Potter defensive rebound	21	14
3:06	Aaron Nesmith misses running layup	21	14
3:05	Craig Porter Jr. defensive rebound	21	14
2:58	Evan Mobley makes 7-foot two point shot (Jaylon Tyson assists)	21	16
2:44	Jarace Walker makes 26-foot three point jumper (T.J. McConnell assists)	24	16
2:31	Craig Porter Jr. bad pass turnover (T.J. McConnell steals)	24	16
2:23	Jaylon Tyson shooting foul	24	16
2:23	Cavaliers Full timeout	24	16
2:23	Ethan Thompson enters the game for Ben Sheppard	24	16
2:23	Micah Potter misses free throw 1 of 2	24	16
2:23	Pacers offensive team rebound	24	16
2:23	Micah Potter makes free throw 2 of 2	25	16
2:08	Micah Potter shooting foul	25	16
2:08	Evan Mobley makes free throw 1 of 2	25	17
2:08	Evan Mobley makes free throw 2 of 2	25	18
1:45	Jarace Walker misses 26-foot turnaround jump shot	25	18
1:44	Pacers offensive team rebound	25	18
1:44	shot clock turnover	25	18
1:30	Jarace Walker shooting foul	25	18
1:30	Sam Merrill misses free throw 1 of 2	25	18
1:30	Cavaliers offensive team rebound	25	18
1:30	Sam Merrill makes free throw 2 of 2	25	19
1:24	Micah Potter misses 25-foot three point jumper	25	19
1:21	De'Andre Hunter defensive rebound	25	19
1:12	Sam Merrill makes 25-foot three point jumper (Craig Porter Jr. assists)	25	22
1:00	T.J. McConnell makes 26-foot three point jumper (Jarace Walker assists)	28	22
49.4	Evan Mobley misses layup	28	22
47.5	Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound	28	22
24.6	shot clock turnover	28	22
24.6	Darius Garland enters the game for Craig Porter Jr.	28	22
24.6	Andrew Nembhard enters the game for T.J. McConnell	28	22
24.6	Ben Sheppard enters the game for Ethan Thompson	28	22
3.9	Sam Merrill misses 27-foot three point pullup jump shot	28	22
1.0	Micah Potter defensive rebound	28	22
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	28	22

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Indianapolis, IN

Date & Time

12:00 AM, January 7, 2026

Coverage

FanDuel SN IN, RESN, NBA League Pass, FanDuel SN OH

Attendance

16,007

Referees

Marc Davis, CJ Washington, Scott Twardoski

2025-26 Central Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
Detroit	45	16	.738	L2
Cleveland	39	24	.619	W2
Milwaukee	26	35	.426	L4
Chicago	26	37	.413	W1
Indiana	15	48	.238	L8

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Cavaliers rally late for 120-116 win while handing the Pacers a franchise-record 13th straight loss

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