Cavaliers Survive Late Scare, Garland’s Heroics Seal Comeback Win over Pacers 120-116

It wasn’t exactly a masterpiece painted on hardwood, but in the gritty tranches of an NBA season, style points don’t count in the standings. On a Tuesday night in Indianapolis, the Cleveland Cavaliers proved that sometimes, resilience is the only stat that truly matters.

Facing a desperate Indiana Pacers squad that seemed destined to finally snap a nightmare losing skid, Cleveland found itself down nine points entering the fourth quarter. They were playing without their superstar, Donovan Mitchell. They had lost forward Dean Wade to a knee injury earlier in the game.

And then, Darius Garland decided it was time to go to work.

Garland Sparks Fourth-Quarter Rally for Cavaliers

With the game teetering on the edge of a blowout loss, Garland put the team on his back. The dynamic guard poured in 14 of his game-high 29 points in the final frame, orchestrating a blistering 13-0 run that completely sucked the air out of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

It was the kind of performance that defines a leader. With Mitchell resting and the rotation thinned by injuries, the Cavaliers needed a primary creator to manufacture offense out of thin air. Garland obliged, slicing through the Pacers’ defense for tough layups and stepping back for critical jumpers that swung the pendulum back toward the Cavaliers.

“We threw some punches, they threw some punches,” teammate Sam Merrill said after the game, encapsulating the back-and-forth nature of the contest. But it was Garland’s knockout blow in the fourth that allowed Cleveland to escape with a 120-116 victory, securing their fourth win in five games.

Depth Tested as Injuries Mount for Cleveland

The narrative coming into this game was heavily focused on who wasn’t on the floor. The Cavaliers are currently navigating a treacherous stretch of their schedule while managing a banged-up roster. Before tip-off, news broke that sharpshooter Max Strus would miss at least another month with a foot injury—a tough blow for a team looking to solidify its playoff positioning.

Compounding the issue, the team decided to rest Donovan Mitchell, and then lost Dean Wade in the first half to a bruised left knee. Suddenly, Coach Kenny Atkinson was forced to rely on his depth pieces to keep the ship afloat.

Enter Sam Merrill and Jarrett Allen. While Garland grabbed the headlines, Merrill’s shooting was the lifeline the Cavaliers needed to stay within striking distance. Merrill finished with 19 points, drilling 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. His spacing was vital, opening up the floor for Evan Mobley, who quietly dominated the interior with 20 points. Allen, despite battling illness recently, chipped in 19 points of his own, providing the steady anchor in the paint that Cleveland has come to rely on.

Heartbreak History for the Pacers

On the other side of the court, the emotions were starkly different. For the Indiana Pacers, this loss wasn’t just another mark in the ‘L’ column; it was history of the worst kind.

The defeat marked their 13th consecutive loss, setting a new franchise record for the longest losing streak in their NBA era. It is a stunning fall from grace for a team labeled in the reports as the defending Eastern Conference champions. To be that close to ending the slide—holding a commanding lead late in the game—only to watch it evaporate is the kind of psychological blow that lingers.

Pascal Siakam did his part with 22 points, and Jay Huff was a surprise spark plug with 20, but without stars like Tyrese Haliburton available, the Pacers simply didn’t have the closing power to withstand Cleveland’s late surge. They are now sitting at a league-worst 6-31 record, a statistic that seemed unfathomable just a year ago.

Looking Ahead for the Cavaliers

This win speaks volumes about the culture building in Cleveland. It’s easy to fold when you’re on the road, undermanned, and trailing late. Instead, the Cavaliers tightened their defensive screws and executed when it mattered most.

The victory improves Cleveland to 21-17, keeping them firmly in the mix in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. They don’t have much time to celebrate, however, as they head to Minnesota on Thursday for another tough test.

For now, Coach Atkinson can take solace in knowing that even when the roster is battered, and the odds are stacked, his team has the heart—and the closers—to grind out a win.