The Eastern Conference’s top seed is in trouble. After dropping their first two games at home, the Cavaliers now find themselves in an 0-2 series hole. The Pacers will hope to push their lead to three games with a win at home tonight. Which of these two Central division rivals is the betting public backing on Friday?
The Cavaliers enter tonight’s contest as five-point favorites over the Pacers, with the over/under set at 230.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Betting Splits
Entering this weekend, the Cavaliers were already slight favorites to earn their first win of the second round. Still, lingering health issues have loomed large over Cleveland in this series. Darius Garland (toe), Evan Mobley (ankle) and Deandre Hunter (thumb) all missed Game 2. Still, the Cavs held a 20-point lead in the second half, only to lose on a Tyrese Haliburton game-winner. Given the nature of its most recent loss, it’s not surprising that 80% of the handle and 56% of all bets on the moneyline favor Cleveland.
The spread is more of the same, with 70% of the handle backing the visitors. Even more total bets (65%) see the Cavaliers winning by at least six points tonight. This season, Cleveland is 22-14-0 ATS as a road favorite. However, the Cavs are only 9-10-0 ATS following a loss.
More wagers are expecting a shootout; 65% of the handle and 66% of all bets anticipate plenty of buckets on Friday. In five of their last eight meetings, the Cavaliers and Pacers have scored at least 237 combined points.
Most Popular Player Props
Here are the five player props in tonight’s matchup receiving the most bets:
- Aaron Nesmith 4+ three-pointers made (+245)
- Donovan Mitchell 30+ points (+105)
- Jarrett Allen to record a double-double (+100)
- Obi Toppin 6+ points (-160)
- Evan Mobley under 9.5 rebounds (-135)
What separates the Pacers from most other clubs is their depth. Head coach Rick Carlisle has the luxury of utilizing a true ten-man rotation, while some other teams are lucky to have eight. One of the hidden gems on this Indiana squad is Aaron Nesmith. The wing, known more for his defensive prowess, has developed into a legitimate two-way player. This postseason, the 25-year-old is averaging 16.3 points on 56.2% shooting (56.1 3PT%). So far in this series, the sharpshooter has knocked down nine of his 14 three-point attempts.
If the Cavaliers are going to earn their first win in this series, they’ll need another big game from Donovan Mitchell. On Tuesday, the All-Star produced 48 points on 15-of-30 shooting, carrying the offense without Darius Garland (toe). In Game 3, the point guard and Evan Mobley (ankle) are both expected to return, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Regardless, Mitchell has dropped at least 30 points 11 different times in the postseason throughout his career.
Spida isn’t the only Cavs star worth mentioning tonight. Third on tonight’s player prop list is Jarrett Allen. The center isn’t the most flashy player on Cleveland’s roster, but he might be its most dependable. In Game 2, he posted 22 points and 12 rebounds over 32 minutes of play. Considering Indiana’s lack of size, the 27-year-old could be poised for another all-around showing on Friday.
Another secret weapon at Indiana’s disposal is Obi Toppin. The forward has become one of the association’s better ‘microwave scorers’, capable of putting up points in a hurry. Since joining the Pacers in 2023, the former first-round pick has shot 38.3% from three-point range. Toppin has scored at least six points in six of his seven appearances this postseason.
As previously mentioned, the Cavaliers are hopeful that Evan Mobley will make his return on Friday. It’s been a breakout 2024-25 campaign for the forward, who was crowned this season’s Defensive Player of the Year. In Game 1, he tallied 20 points and ten rebounds. However, the 23-year-old has failed to snag double-digit boards in any of his other four outings this postseason.
