Cleveland Cavaliers Dominate Hapless Indiana Pacers
If you’ve been watching the Cavaliers lately, you know the offense has felt a bit like trying to drive a Ferrari in a school zone. Frustrating, choppy, and completely unable to hit top gear. That all changed on Friday night.
In a 120-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers finally looked like the team we were all promised in the preseason. Sure, the Pacers are struggling, and yes, an 11-point win against a team near the bottom of the standings isn’t usually cause for a parade. But this wasn’t about the scoreboard; it was about the vibe. For the first time in weeks, the offense didn’t just work—it flowed.
The Garland Effect on the Cavaliers’ Offense
Let’s be honest: the difference between this team with Darius Garland and without him is night and day. After a frustrating start to the season, debuting, re-aggravating that surgically repaired toe, and sitting out another five games, Garland’s return was the spark plug the engine desperately needed.
He finished with 20 points and 7 assists, but the box score doesn’t tell the whole story. It was his ability to get downhill, collapse the defense, and actually make plays from the paint that transformed the team. When Garland is aggressive, the floor opens up. You could practically see the rest of the roster exhale, realizing they didn’t have to create every single shot on their own anymore.
Mitchell and Mobley Feast On Open Looks
Nobody was happier to see Garland back than Donovan Mitchell. With his backcourt running mate handling the distribution duties, Mitchell was free to do what he does best: get buckets. He dropped a seemingly effortless 32 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists. It looked easy, which is terrifying for the rest of the league.
Meanwhile, Evan Mobley decided to remind everyone why he’s a unicorn. With Jarrett Allen sidelined with a finger issue, Mobley slid into the center role and absolutely dominated. He put up 22 points on efficient shooting, cleaned the glass with 12 rebounds, and swatted four shots for good measure. When Mobley is aggressive and the guards are feeding him, this Cavaliers team becomes a nightmare to match up against.
Bench Production and Next Steps
We have to shout out De’Andre Hunter, too. You need guys to step up when the lights are bright, and Hunter quietly poured in 20 points and 7 boards. It’s that kind of depth that turns good teams into great ones.
Credit to the Pacers—Andrew Nembhard played the game of his life (32 points), and Pascal Siakam was his usual efficient self. But Cleveland simply had too much firepower. The win pushes the Cavaliers to a 2-1 record in the NBA Cup with a healthy +33 point differential. They are back in action Sunday evening against the Clippers. If Friday was any indication, showtime might be returning to Cleveland.
