Donovan Mitchell scores 33 points, Cavaliers clinch playoff spot with 129-120 win over Pacers
CLEVELAND (AP) Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, Jarrett Allen had 29 points and 13 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched a playoff berth with a 129-120 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
Indiana pulled within 120-118 with 2:04 remaining on Pascal Siakam’s drive, but Darius Garland answered with a 3-pointer over Siakam. The Cavaliers scored the final six points, capped by an Isaac Okoro three-point play that ended with him somersaulting before posing for the crowd.
Garland and Caris LeVert each finished with 16 points, and Max Strus had seven points and nine assists. Allen made 13 of 14 shots for Cleveland, which earned its first back-to-back playoff appearances since making four straight NBA Finals from 2015-2018.
“Tonight was the closest we were going to get to a playoff feel before the playoffs, and we felt that pressure as an organization,” Allen said. “We should celebrate this accomplishment because everybody has worked hard to make this happen. But the job is not done yet. We want to go far in the playoffs."
The Cavaliers also locked up a top-four seed in the East - and home-court advantage in the opening round - despite Mitchell only playing 11 games and averaging just 19.5 points since the All-Star break because of ongoing left knee soreness and a broken nose.
“It’s been a long 2-3 months, but I’ve continued to believe,” said Mitchell, whose scoring total was his highest since Feb. 12. “This is what I do. Now, how do I elevate myself to be better in the playoffs? This is a good win for us and I think we're in a good spot.”
Tyrese Haliburton had 19 points and 12 assists, Siakam scored 19 points and Myles Turner had 17 points for the Pacers, who can advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2020 with a win over Atlanta or a Philadelphia loss on Sunday.
Thanks to the jumbled postseason picture, Indiana can finish as high as fifth and as low as eighth in the East. The seventh- and eighth-place clubs will be part of the play-in tournament.
“Sunday is what you play your whole season for, it’s one game at home with an opportunity,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’ll have to flush this as soon as we can and get ready. Tonight was disappointing and we’ve got some things to get cleaned up.”
Aaron Nesmith scored nine points in the third and Haliburton had eight, pulling Indiana to 97-94 going into the fourth. Pacers forward Obi Toppin sprained his left ankle in the period and did not return.
The Cavaliers built a 14-point lead in the second and were up 70-59 at halftime. Mitchell scored 18 points in 18 minutes and Allen had 16 points and nine rebounds.
“There were times this year when many people had us dead in the water,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Somehow, some way, this group stuck together and persevered. I think that’s a great sign for us.”
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host Atlanta on Sunday.
Cavaliers: Host Charlotte on Sunday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Myles Turner vs. Jarrett Allen (Evan Mobley gains possession) | ||
| 11:40 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:37 |  | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | ||
| 11:25 | | Myles Turner turnover (lost ball) (Donovan Mitchell steals) | ||
| 11:17 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:14 | | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | ||
| 11:10 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point running reverse layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 2-0 |
| 11:10 | | Evan Mobley shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 11:10 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 3-0 |
| 10:46 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 3-2 |
| 10:22 | | Myles Turner misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:21 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 10:21 | | Pacers turnover (shot clock violation) | ||
| 10:07 | | Max Strus misses two point driving finger roll layup | ||
| 10:05 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 10:02 | | Pascal Siakam misses two point running layup | ||
| 9:59 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 9:57 | | Andrew Nembhard shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 9:57 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-3 |
| 9:57 | | Jarrett Allen misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 9:55 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 9:50 | | Myles Turner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:46 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 9:38 | | Darius Garland misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:36 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 9:30 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:27 | | Myles Turner defensive rebound | ||
| 9:25 | | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:11 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving layup (Jarrett Allen assists) | 3-5 |
| 8:53 | | Jarrett Allen shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 8:53 | | Myles Turner misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:53 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 8:53 | | Myles Turner misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 8:51 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 8:33 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting layup (Max Strus assists) | 3-7 |
| 8:25 | | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (palming) | ||
| 8:16 | | Donovan Mitchell turnover (lost ball) (Tyrese Haliburton steals) | ||
| 8:12 | | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point running dunk (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 5-7 |
| 7:49 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point turnaround jump shot | 5-9 |
| 7:36 | | +3 | Pascal Siakam makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 8-9 |
| 7:24 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point floating jump shot (Evan Mobley assists) | 8-11 |
| 7:13 | | Evan Mobley blocks Pascal Siakam's two point driving layup | ||
| 7:10 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 7:06 | | +2 | Max Strus makes two point driving layup | 8-13 |
| 6:48 | | +3 | Myles Turner makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 11-13 |
| 6:30 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 11-15 |
| 6:17 | | Evan Mobley personal foul (Pascal Siakam draws the foul) | ||
| 6:17 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:08 | | Myles Turner misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 6:05 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 5:55 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:53 | | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | ||
| 5:42 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point stepback jump shot (Myles Turner assists) | 13-15 |
| 5:20 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point floating jump shot | 13-17 |
| 5:05 | | +2 | Aaron Nesmith makes two point driving layup (Myles Turner assists) | 15-17 |
| 4:51 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point bank jump shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 15-20 |
| 4:51 | | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Donovan Mitchell draws the foul) | ||
| 4:51 | | +1 | Donovan Mitchell makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 15-21 |
| 4:41 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:38 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 4:29 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 4:27 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 4:26 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point turnaround hook shot | 15-23 |
| 4:08 | | +3 | Tyrese Haliburton makes three point stepback jump shot | 18-23 |
| 3:50 | | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 18-26 |
| 3:40 | | Jalen Smith misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 3:38 | | Jalen Smith offensive rebound | ||
| 3:35 | | T.J. McConnell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:33 | | Georges Niang defensive rebound | ||
| 3:21 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point driving finger roll layup | 18-28 |
| 3:21 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:01 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point jump shot (Obi Toppin assists) | 20-28 |
| 2:42 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 2:39 | | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | ||
| 2:35 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point running pullup jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 22-28 |
| 2:18 | | +2 | Isaac Okoro makes two point driving layup (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 22-30 |
| 2:09 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving reverse layup | 24-30 |
| 1:56 | | Caris LeVert misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:54 | | Donovan Mitchell offensive rebound | ||
| 1:54 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving layup | 24-32 |
| 1:32 | | Tyrese Haliburton turnover (bad pass) (Isaac Okoro steals) | ||
| 1:25 | | Jalen Smith shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 1:25 | | Jarrett Allen misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 1:25 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 1:25 | | Jarrett Allen misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 1:22 | | Ben Sheppard defensive rebound | ||
| 1:08 | | T.J. McConnell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:05 | | Darius Garland defensive rebound | ||
| 1:05 | | Darius Garland turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 0:44 | | Obi Toppin misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:43 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 0:41 | | +2 | Jalen Smith makes two point driving layup (T.J. McConnell assists) | 26-32 |
| 0:28 | | Caris LeVert misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:26 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 0:24 | | Ben Sheppard turnover (palming) | ||
| 0:05 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point pullup jump shot | 26-35 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:43 | | T.J. McConnell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:40 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 11:27 | | Evan Mobley turnover (lost ball) (Obi Toppin steals) | ||
| 11:16 | | +2 | Jalen Smith makes two point layup (Obi Toppin assists) | 28-35 |
| 11:05 | | Ben Sheppard personal foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 10:56 | | +2 | Darius Garland makes two point finger roll layup | 28-37 |
| 10:31 | | Ben Sheppard turnover (bad pass) (Caris LeVert steals) | ||
| 10:26 | | Darius Garland misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:26 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 10:26 | | Doug McDermott personal foul (Loose ball) (Isaac Okoro draws the foul) | ||
| 10:22 | | Darius Garland turnover (bad pass) (T.J. McConnell steals) | ||
| 10:13 | | +3 | Ben Sheppard makes three point running jump shot (Obi Toppin assists) | 31-37 |
| 10:01 | | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point jump shot (Darius Garland assists) | 31-40 |
| 9:56 | | Doug McDermott misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:52 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | Isaac Okoro misses two point running layup | ||
| 9:44 | | Isaac Okoro offensive rebound | ||
| 9:33 | | +3 | Darius Garland makes three point stepback jump shot | 31-43 |
| 9:22 | | T.J. McConnell misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 9:20 | | Evan Mobley defensive rebound | ||
| 9:12 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point cutting layup (Darius Garland assists) | 31-45 |
| 9:12 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:54 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point pullup jump shot (Obi Toppin assists) | 33-45 |
| 8:35 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:32 | | Jalen Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 8:25 | | Obi Toppin misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:22 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 8:13 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 33-47 |
| 8:02 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point jump shot (Ben Sheppard assists) | 35-47 |
| 7:45 | | Darius Garland turnover (bad pass) (Obi Toppin steals) | ||
| 7:37 | | +2 | Jalen Smith makes two point jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 37-47 |
| 7:16 | | Darius Garland turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Smith steals) | ||
| 7:13 | | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point running alley-oop dunk (T.J. McConnell assists) | 39-47 |
| 7:12 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:12 | | Georges Niang technical foul (Double) | ||
| 7:12 | | T.J. McConnell technical foul (Double) | ||
| 6:51 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point cutting dunk (Caris LeVert assists) | 39-49 |
| 6:37 | | Ben Sheppard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:33 | | Obi Toppin offensive rebound | ||
| 6:33 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Obi Toppin draws the foul) | ||
| 6:33 | | +1 | Obi Toppin makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 40-49 |
| 6:33 | | +1 | Obi Toppin makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 41-49 |
| 6:22 | | Myles Turner blocks Caris LeVert's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 6:22 | | Cavaliers offensive rebound | ||
| 6:18 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:15 | | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | ||
| 5:59 | | Pascal Siakam misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 5:56 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 5:47 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point layup | 41-51 |
| 5:26 | | +2 | Aaron Nesmith makes two point driving layup (Pascal Siakam assists) | 43-51 |
| 5:06 | | +3 | Donovan Mitchell makes three point pullup jump shot (Jarrett Allen assists) | 43-54 |
| 4:57 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 45-54 |
| 4:37 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point floating jump shot (Donovan Mitchell assists) | 45-56 |
| 4:24 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 47-56 |
| 4:12 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 4:10 | | Donovan Mitchell offensive rebound | ||
| 4:05 | | Donovan Mitchell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:04 | | Evan Mobley offensive rebound | ||
| 4:04 | | +2 | Evan Mobley makes two point tip dunk | 47-58 |
| 3:53 | | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:47 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 3:42 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point turnaround hook shot (Max Strus assists) | 47-60 |
| 3:42 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 3:30 | | Aaron Nesmith misses two point layup | ||
| 3:27 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 3:14 | | Donovan Mitchell misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:10 | | Aaron Nesmith defensive rebound | ||
| 3:03 | | Pascal Siakam misses two point driving layup | ||
| 3:01 | | Pascal Siakam offensive rebound | ||
| 3:00 | | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point putback layup | 49-60 |
| 2:39 | | Max Strus misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 2:36 | | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | ||
| 2:34 | | +2 | Andrew Nembhard makes two point running layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 51-60 |
| 2:17 | | +2 | Donovan Mitchell makes two point driving layup (Max Strus assists) | 51-62 |
| 2:07 | | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point cutting dunk (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 53-62 |
| 2:07 | | Evan Mobley shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 2:07 | | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 54-62 |
| 1:47 | | +2 | Caris LeVert makes two point turnaround jump shot | 54-64 |
| 1:32 | | +3 | Tyrese Haliburton makes three point jump shot (Myles Turner assists) | 57-64 |
| 1:20 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point cutting dunk (Caris LeVert assists) | 57-66 |
| 1:20 | | Pascal Siakam shooting foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 1:20 | | +1 | Jarrett Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 57-67 |
| 0:58 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Pascal Siakam draws the foul) | ||
| 0:58 | | +1 | Pascal Siakam makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 58-67 |
| 0:58 | | +1 | Pascal Siakam makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 59-67 |
| 0:36 | | Max Strus misses two point driving layup | ||
| 0:32 | | Aaron Nesmith defensive rebou |