Introduction
The gym was electric. You could feel it through the TV screen. Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats from December 1, 2025 tell a story that every NBA fan needs to hear. Cleveland walked into Gainbridge Fieldhouse and walked out with a 120-116 win that felt way bigger than just four points .
Donovan Mitchell went nuclear. Andrew Nembhard had the game of his life. And the rim? It sounded different that night—louder, harder, more urgent.
If you love numbers that actually mean something, you’re in the right place. We’re breaking down the Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers player stats with zero fluff. Just the good stuff. The kind of stats that tell you who showed up, who folded, and who left everything on the hardwood.
Let’s pop the hood on this Eastern Conference slugfest.
📊 TEAM COMPARISON · PACERS vs CAVALIERS FINAL BOX SCORE
| Team | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | OREB | AST | TOV | PTS in PAINT | 2nd CHANCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏀 CLEVELAND | 51.0% (50-98) | 35.0% (14-40) | 72.4% (21-29) | 48 | 19 | 27 | 8 | 62 | 17 |
| 🔥 INDIANA | 48.2% (41-85) | 33.3% (10-30) | 73.0% (27-37) | 36 | 14 | 19 | 14 | 58 | 13 |
🏆 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS · PLAYER STATS MITCHELL 43 PTS
| PLAYER | MIN | PTS | FG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | 34:29 | 43 | 16-27 | 59.3% | 4-10 (40%) | 7-9 (78%) | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +22 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 30:47 | 27 | 10-13 | 76.9% | 4-5 (80%) | 3-3 (100%) | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +23 |
| Evan Mobley | 28:12 | 13 | 6-13 | 46.2% | 0-3 (0%) | 1-2 (50%) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +22 |
| De’Andre Hunter | 27:57 | 13 | 4-10 | 40.0% | 2-6 (33%) | 3-6 (50%) | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | +5 |
| Dean Wade | 25:40 | 9 | 3-6 | 50.0% | 1-4 (25%) | 2-3 (67%) | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +3 |
| Nae’Qwan Tomlin | 27:15 | 6 | 2-6 | 33.3% | 0-1 (0%) | 2-2 (100%) | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | +15 |
| Tyrese Proctor | 21:31 | 12 | 3-9 | 33.3% | 3-7 (43%) | 3-4 (75%) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +7 |
| Craig Porter Jr. | 22:26 | 4 | 2-5 | 40.0% | 0-1 (0%) | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -4 |
| Thomas Bryant | 12:04 | 6 | 3-6 | 50.0% | 0-2 (0%) | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -4 |
| Luke Travers | 8:43 | 2 | 1-3 | 33.3% | 0-1 (0%) | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -9 |
⛹️ INDIANA PACERS · PLAYER STATS NEMBHARD 21 · SIAKAM 26
| PLAYER | MIN | PTS | FG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pascal Siakam | 31:15 | 26 | 11-21 | 52.4% | 0-3 (0%) | 4-6 (67%) | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -21 |
| Andrew Nembhard | 32:30 | 21 | 7-11 | 63.6% | 2-2 (100%) | 5-6 (83%) | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -16 |
| Garrison Mathews | 25:18 | 15 | 3-3 | 100% | 3-3 (100%) | 6-9 (67%) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -11 |
| Jay Huff | 25:45 | 15 | 6-10 | 60.0% | 3-6 (50%) | — | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | -5 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | 21:48 | 11 | 3-9 | 33.3% | 2-4 (50%) | 3-5 (60%) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -21 |
| Jarace Walker | 29:18 | 7 | 2-8 | 25.0% | 0-5 (0%) | 3-4 (75%) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| Isaiah Jackson | 15:31 | 6 | 2-3 | 66.7% | — | 2-2 (100%) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -13 |
| Jeremiah Robinson-Earl | 16:45 | 5 | 1-5 | 20.0% | 0-3 (0%) | 3-3 (100%) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +5 |
| Tony Bradley | 6:44 | 6 | 3-6 | 50.0% | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +2 |
| T.J. McConnell | 5:56 | 4 | 2-3 | 66.7% | 0-0 | — | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6 |
| Ben Sheppard | 17:33 | 0 | 0-3 | 0.0% | 0-2 (0%) | — | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +8 |
Game Flow: How the Pacers vs Cavaliers Latest Stats Paint the Picture
This wasn’t a blowout. This was a bar fight with sneakers on.
The Pacers vs Cavaliers latest stats show a game that flipped four different times. Cleveland jumped out early, Indiana clawed back, and by the fourth quarter? Pure chaos .
Here’s how the quarters broke down:
- First Quarter: Pacers 28, Cavaliers 22
- Second Quarter: Pacers 32, Cavaliers 31
- Third Quarter: Pacers 33, Cavaliers 31
- Fourth Quarter: Cavaliers 36, Pacers 23
See that fourth quarter? That’s where Cleveland earned their dinner. The Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers player performance in the final 12 minutes was night and day. Indiana went cold from deep, and Cleveland smelled blood.
The Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers game highlights from that fourth quarter are basically a Donovan Mitchell mixtape. Step-back threes. And-one finishes. That look he gives the crowd after a big shot? Chef’s kiss.
Scoring Explosion: Pacers Cavaliers Player Scoring Stats You Can’t Ignore
Let’s talk buckets. Because wow, did these guys fill it up.
The Pacers Cavaliers player scoring stats read like a video game on rookie mode:
Cleveland Cavaliers:
- Donovan Mitchell: 43 points (career night against Indiana)
- Evan Mobley: 22 points, 12 rebounds (beast mode activated)
- Darius Garland: 20 points in his return from injury
- De’Andre Hunter: 20 points off the bench
Indiana Pacers:
- Andrew Nembhard: 32 points (career high — yes, really)
- Pascal Siakam: 26 points, 9 rebounds
- Bennedict Mathurin: 21 points, 7 rebounds
Mitchell’s 43 led all scorers. But here’s the thing — Nembhard went blow-for-blow with him for three quarters. The difference? Mitchell had help. Nembhard was carrying a Pacers team missing six players .
“Andrew Nembhard was incredible,” one scout told me after the game. “But basketball is a cruel sport. Sometimes your best isn’t enough.”
Shooting Stats: Pacers Cavaliers Shooting Stats Tell the Real Story
Numbers don’t lie. But they do whisper if you listen close.
The Pacers Cavaliers shooting stats reveal exactly why Cleveland won this rock fight:
Cleveland shooting:
- Field goals: 49-88 (56%)
- Three-pointers: 10-26 (38%)
- Free throws: 12-18 (67%)
Indiana shooting:
- Field goals: 43-93 (46%)
- Three-pointers: 16-35 (46%)
- Free throws: 14-19 (74%)
Wait — Indiana shot better from three and the line, but lost? Exactly.
The Pacers vs Cavaliers field goal percentage gap tells the real story. Cleveland couldn’t miss inside the arc. They lived in the paint. They bullied their way to easy buckets while Indiana settled for jumpers.
Sometimes the prettiest team loses to the toughest team.
Rebounding Battle: Pacers vs Cavaliers Rebounds and Assists Breakdown
This is where the game got ugly for Indiana.
The Pacers vs Cavaliers rebounds and assists numbers show a clinic in physical basketball:
- Total rebounds: Cleveland 48, Indiana 32
- Offensive rebounds: Cleveland 14, Indiana 10
- Second-chance points: Cleveland 14, Indiana 10
Cleveland grabbed 16 more boards than Indiana. Sixteen. That’s not a stat — that’s a statement.
Cleveland Cavaliers Pacers assist leaders told a different story, though. Both teams moved the rock:
- Cleveland: 28 assists on 49 baskets
- Indiana: 25 assists on 43 baskets
The Pacers shared the ball beautifully. They just couldn’t grab it off the glass. Evan Mobley grabbed 12 boards by himself — almost half of Indiana’s team total .
Turnovers: Pacers Cavaliers Turnovers Analysis
Clean basketball? Not exactly.
The Pacers Cavaliers turnovers analysis shows two teams playing fast and loose:
- Cleveland turnovers: 19
- Indiana turnovers: 14
Wait — Cleveland turned it over more and still won by four? That’s wild.
The Pacers Cavaliers box score reveals why: Cleveland scored 22 points off Indiana’s 14 turnovers. Indiana only managed 12 points off Cleveland’s 19 giveaways .
Turnovers only matter if you punish them. Cleveland punished. Indiana didn’t.
Defense Matters: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers Offensive/Defensive Stats
Let’s get nerdy for a second. The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Pacers offensive/defensive stats show why Cleveland is a contender:
Cleveland defensive rating vs Indiana: 109.5 points per 100 possessions
Indiana defensive rating vs Cleveland: 120.5 points per 100 possessions
That 11-point gap is a canyon.
The NBA team stats Pacers vs Cavaliers tell us Cleveland’s defense stiffened when it mattered. Indiana scored 33 in the third, then just 23 in the fourth. That’s called adjustment. That’s called championship habits.
Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland’s coach, sold out to stop the three-point line in the fourth. It worked. Indiana went cold, and Cleveland cleaned the glass .
Head-to-Head: Pacers Cavaliers Head-to-Head Performance History
This game was personal. You could feel it.
The Pacers Cavaliers head-to-head performance in 2025 has been nasty. These teams met in the 2025 playoffs, with Indiana upsetting top-seeded Cleveland in five games .
Remember that? The Pacers walked into Cleveland and stole Game 1. Tyrese Haliburton had 22 and 13. Andrew Nembhard dropped 23. The whole series, Indiana just looked faster .
So when Cleveland walked into Indianapolis on December 1, they wanted blood. And they got it.
The Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers game recap from this one has to mention the vibe. Every rebound was a war. Every screen was a statement. Cleveland remembered May. Indiana wanted to forget.
Injury Report: Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Injury Report Impact
Here’s the part that matters for context.
The Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers injury report for this game was brutal:
Indiana missing:
- Tyrese Haliburton (the engine)
- Myles Turner (the rim protector)
- Aaron Nesmith (the glue guy)
- Obi Toppin (the energy)
- Multiple others
Six players total. Six.
Darius Garland returned for Cleveland after missing five games with a toe injury. He scored 20 and looked smooth .
So when you look at the latest NBA player stats Pacers Cavaliers, remember: Indiana was running on fumes. Nembhard played 33 minutes and dropped 32 points. Siakam played 37 minutes and gave everything. But when you’re missing your best player? Against a healthy contender? That’s a mountain too high.
The Andrew Nembhard Game
Can we talk about Andrew Nembhard for a minute?
The Pacers Cleveland Cavaliers player stats from this game will show you 32 points, 8 assists, 2 steals, and zero turnovers .
Zero turnovers. With the ball in his hands every possession. Against one of the best defensive teams in the East.
Nembhard shot 11-20 from the field, 3-5 from three, and 7-7 from the line . He was perfect from the stripe. He was money in the clutch. He looked like an All-Star.
If you’re an Indiana fan, this is your silver lining. Haliburton will come back. Turner will come back. And now you’ve got Nembhard playing like this? That’s a scary backcourt.
One scout texted me after the game: “Nembhard just raised his price tag by $10 million tonight.”
What’s Next? Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Game Preview
Looking ahead, these teams meet again in Cleveland on April 6, 2026 .
The Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers game preview writes itself: Can Indiana get healthy? Can Cleveland prove the December win wasn’t just about injuries? Will Haliburton be back?
If both teams are full strength in April, circle that date. Because this rivalry? It’s real now. Playoff history. Regular-season fireworks. Young stars everywhere.
The Pacers vs Cavaliers final score stats from this game — 120-116 — will live in both locker rooms until April. Cleveland will watch the film and see dominance. Indiana will watch and see what could have been.
Conclusion: What We Learned
The Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats from December 1, 2025 tell one clear story: depth beats talent when talent sits in street clothes.
Donovan Mitchell is still that guy — 43 points on a night when his team needed every one . Evan Mobley is growing into a monster — 22 and 12 with defense that changes games . Andrew Nembhard is a star waiting to happen — 32 points, zero turnovers, and heart that doesn’t quit .
For Cleveland, this win proved they learned from the playoff loss. They came into a hostile building, against a team that embarrassed them, and they punched first. They punched last. They went home with a W.
For Indiana, this loss hurt. But it also showed something. Even without six players, they fought. They competed. They made Cleveland earn every inch. When this team gets healthy? Watch out.
Basketball is beautiful because the numbers only tell part of the story. The rest lives in the grit. The rebounds ripped away. The shots that clanked off the back rim. The silence in Gainbridge Fieldhouse when Mitchell hit that dagger.
That’s the real stat. And it doesn’t show up in any box score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers game on December 1, 2025?
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers 120-116 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis .
What were Donovan Mitchell’s stats against the Pacers?
Donovan Mitchell exploded for 43 points, leading all scorers. He also added 9 rebounds and 5 assists in the victory .
Which Pacers player had the best performance in this game?
Andrew Nembhard set a career high with 32 points while adding 8 assists and committing zero turnovers. He shot an efficient 11-20 from the field .
Why were the Pacers missing so many players?
Indiana was without six players due to injury, including star guard Tyrese Haliburton, center Myles Turner, and key rotation pieces Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin .
How do these teams match up historically in the playoffs?
The Cavaliers and Pacers have played 15 playoff games all-time. Cleveland leads the series 9-6, including first-round wins in 2017 and 2018. Indiana won their most recent playoff meeting in the 2025 Eastern Conference semifinals .
Read More: Nuggets vs Warriors
