Cavs vs Pacers preview and gamethread
The last regular season game of the year will be a bench and G League showcase.
After nearly beating them a few nights ago, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers will look to exact some revenge in the regular season finale against the Indiana Pacers. But don’t get me wrong too excited to see the stars in action, as both teams are opting to rest the majority of their rosters for the playoffs.
Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (64-17) vs Indiana Pacers (49-32)
Where: Rocket Arena - Cleveland, OH
When: 1:00 pm EST
TV: FanDuel Sports Network
Line: Pacers -6.5
Expected Cavs starting lineup: Craig Porter Jr., Jaylon Tyson, Javonte Green, Chuma Okeke, Jarrett Allen
Cavs injury report: Darius Garland - OUT (toe), Donovan Mitchell - OUT (ankle), De’Andre Hunter - OUT (rest), Ty Jerome - OUT (knee injury management), Sam Merrill - OUT (rest), Evan Mobley - OUT (low back), Isaac Okoro - OUT (rest), Max Strus - OUT (knee), Dean Wade - OUT (rest)
Expected Pacers starting lineup: TJ McConnell, Johnny Furphy, Aaron Nesmith, Enrique Freeman, Tony Bradley
Pacers injury report: Tyrese Halliburton - OUT (back), Benedict Mathurin - OUT (calf), Pascal Siakam - OUT (elbow), Enrique Freeman - QUESTIONABLE (G League), Ben Sheppard - DOUBTFUL (toe), RayJ Dennis - QUESTIONABLE (G League), Quenton Jackson - QUESTIONABLE (G League), Isaiah Jackson - OUT (torn achilles)
What to watch for
Future bench backcourt?
Craig Porter and Jaylon Tyson will likely get a ton of minutes today, which should be a good opportunity to show what they’ve got. Porter and Tyson may not have big roles next season, assuming Ty Jerome and Isaac Okoro are still on the roster, but the year after could be different.
The Cavs already have to do salary gymnastics to keep Jerome for next season and beyond, and Okoro could be a cap casualty to make that happen. That would push Tyson into a bigger role, and the former first-round pick has shown some flashes of two-way capability.
Porter is pretty set as the third point guard should Jerome stay, but he could be thrust into the backup role if the Cavs are unable to retain the former Virginia Cavalier.
G League guys
This should be the game that Emoni Bates, Luke Travers, and Nae’Qwon Tomlin get heavy minutes. The Cavs’ G League team, the Charge, had a disappointing season, but there were flashes from some of the two-way guys. Travers and Tomlin clearly looked a step better than their competition and Bates has limitless shooting range, and they all should get an opportunity to prove their worth for next season.
Jarrett Allen’s perfect season
It will be a short start for the Cavs’ center, who will likely be pulled after a few minutes, if not a few seconds, but his goal will be achieved: playing in all 82 regular-season games. Allen will end up with just a hair less rest than his fellow starters, but it will have been worth it.