Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Prediction 1/6/2026 Today’s NBA Picks

The Cleveland Cavaliers pay a visit to the Indiana Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. Here’s a Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Prediction. This article will include a Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Pick.

Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Preview 

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in pretty good form, as they’ve won five of their past eight games overall. They were riding a three-game win streak before they got stopped in their tracks by the Pistons in a 114-110 loss on Sunday. Donovan Mitchell led the team with 30 points on 10 of 21 shooting, Darius Garland added 16 points with six assists, while Evan Mobley chipped in with 15 points and five assists.

As a team, the Cavaliers shot 44 percent from the field and 14 of 42 from the 3-point line, but they let themselves on the defensive end and allowed 47 points in the second quarter to fall behind by 13 points. This is a shame because they cut the deficit to two points twice in the fourth quarter before they let the Pistons slip away. 

Indiana Pacers Betting Preview 

Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers have been in a major slump as they’ve lost 14 of their last 16 games overall and they are now on a 12-game losing streak after falling short to the Magic in a 135-127 road defeat on Sunday. Pascal Siakam led the team with 34 points, seven rebounds and five assists on 14 of 21 shooting, Aaron Nesmith added 25 points with eight assists while Andrew Nembhard chipped in with 20 points and 11 assists.

As a team, the Pacers shot 55 percent from the field and 15 of 34 from the 3-point line as they got off to a poor start and got outscored by 41-22 in the second quarter to fall behind by 12 points. But to their credit, they responded with 42 points in the third quarter and cut the deficit to just one point before the Magic finished with a flurry to pull away at the end. 

Why the Indiana Pacers will win

• The Cavaliers have lost each of their last three games as favorites against Central Division opponents.
• The Pacers have won each of their last two games as home underdogs against the Cavaliers following a loss.
• The Cavaliers have failed to cover the spread in nine of their last 10 games as favorites against Eastern Conference opponents.
• The Pacers have covered the spread in five of their last six night games following a road loss.

Why the Cleveland Cavaliers will win

• The Pacers have lost each of their last 17 night games against teams that held a winning record.
• The Cavaliers have won each of their last eight night games against Pacers teams that held a losing record.
• The Cavaliers have covered the spread in each of their last four road games against Pacers teams that held a losing record.
• The Pacers have failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse against Cavaliers teams that held a winning record.

Total Points Facts

• Each of the Pacers’ last six night games against the Cavaliers following a road loss have gone OVER the total points line.
• Four of the Cavaliers’ last five games have gone UNDER the total points line.

Indiana Pacers Player Facts

• Pascal Siakam is one of only four qualified players in the league to be leading their team in points (23.8) and rebounds (6.7) per game this season.
• Aaron Nesmith is one of only eight qualified players to have made a three in every game this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers Player Facts

• Jaylon Tyson ranks 11th amongst qualified players for 3P% (43.9%) this season.
• De’Andre Hunter ranks 10th in the Eastern Conference amongst qualified players for FT% (86.8%) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pacers rank 30th in the league for opponent free throw attempts per game this season (28.9).
• The Pacers rank 30th in the league for Q2 points per game this season (27.1).
• The Cavaliers rank 30th in the league for Q2 win percentage this season (29.7%).
• The Cavaliers rank 2nd in the league for field goal attempts per game this season (92.4).

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Prediction

The Cavaliers are still missing Larry Nance Jr and Donovan Mitchell with Dean Wade and Jarrett Allen both listed as questionable, while the Pacers have ruled out Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and Tyrese Haliburton once again. The Cavaliers haven’t been at their absolute best lately, but they were starting to get on a roll with three wins in a row before they lost a close one to the Pistons in their last outing.

In contrast, the Pacers have flat out been the coldest team in the league lately, but they were more than competitive against the Magic in their narrow loss on Sunday. I would be tempted to take the Pacers with the points if the line were just a couple of points higher, but with it set at just two possessions. I will stick with the Cavaliers to bounce back with a win and cover in this spot.

Peter Tran's Pick: Cleveland -5.5