The Cleveland Cavaliers will visit the Indiana Pacers on Monday night in a game featuring two teams going through very different streaks. The Cavs have dropped a few games in a row, while the Pacers have finally strung a pair of wins together. Before these Central Division rivals meet in Indy, I’ll make my Cavaliers vs Pacers prediction here, as I tell you whether I think the Pacers can upset the Cavs at home.
Our Cavaliers vs Pacers Pick
- Pick: Cavaliers −6.5
- Confidence: 4/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers
- Date & Time: Monday, December 1, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Cavaliers vs Pacers Odds
| Odds | Cleveland | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | −6.5 | +6.5 |
| Moneyline | −250 | +205 |
| Total (O/U) | 232.5 | |
Key Storylines
- Cleveland is coming off a tough loss to the Boston Celtics and enters this game looking to snap a three‑game skid. Their offense typically runs through elite perimeter shooting and ball movement. But the Cavs will have to find a way to perform on the second game of a back-to-back here and that could cause problems for them on the road.
- Both teams are dealing with a ton of injury issues. The Pacers are without Tyrese Haliburton for the season, while Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith are also out. Cleveland is set to be without Jarrett Allen and Larry Nance Jr., while the status of Sam Merrill, Lonzo Ball, and Max Strus is up in the air.
- For Cleveland, their three‑point shooting is a major strength. They are among the league leaders in made threes per game, and with very little resistance outside from Indiana, perimeter shooting could help them build a comfortable lead despite being at a rest disadvantage.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- The Cavs defeated the Pacers 120-109 in their first meeting of the regular season.
- Cleveland is 6-15 against the spread going into this matchup.
- The Pacers are 11-9 against the spread entering Monday night.
- The under has cashed in 12 of the 21 games for the Cavs this season.
- Indiana has gone under the total in 13 of their first 20 games.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | Over 28.5 Points |
| Pascal Siakam | Over 23.5 Points |
Cavaliers vs Pacers Model Projection
Score Projection: Cavaliers 120 – Pacers 106
Win Probability: Cavaliers 70%, Pacers 30%
Final Thoughts
The Cavs are at a rest disadvantage going into this game. But they have huge advantages just about everywhere else against the Pacers in this matchup. I’m going to lay the points with the Cavaliers in this game, as they should bounce back from their loss to the Celtics to split their back-to-back coming out of Thanksgiving.
