Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Timeline: Every Key Moment From 1976 to 2026
The clock read 1.1 seconds. Tyrese Haliburton caught his own missed free throw, stepped back beyond the arc, and buried a three-pointer that sent Cleveland’s crowd into silence. Final score: Pacers 120, Cavaliers 119. That single moment in Game 2 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals perfectly captures what the Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers timeline is really about — no lead is ever safe, and neither team goes down without a fight.
Since the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers first faced each other in the NBA, they’ve built a rivalry that is equal parts hard-nosed basketball and unforgettable drama. Over 238 total games — regular season and playoffs combined — the Pacers hold a slim 121–117 all-time edge. That margin alone tells the whole story. These two teams are evenly matched, and every era of this rivalry has had its own flavor.
The Early Years: Building a Central Division Rivalry (1976–1995)
The Pacers joined the NBA in 1976 after the ABA merger. Cleveland was already an established franchise by then. As division rivals in the Central Division, the two teams crossed paths at least twice every season. The early matchups were low-profile — no star power, no playoff stakes. But the games were physical, and Central Division pride made every contest meaningful.
Through the late 1970s and 1980s, neither team was a serious contender. Cleveland leaned on players like Mark Price and Brad Daugherty, while Indiana built around Herb Williams and gradually developed one of the best shooting guards in the game — Reggie Miller.
The rivalry started picking up real heat in the early 1990s. Cleveland put together some strong squads under coach Lenny Wilkens and strung together a 10-game winning streak against Indiana between November 1991 and December 1993 — still the longest single run either team has had in this matchup. Indiana answered back with a 9-game winning streak from April 2012 to January 2014, but that came much later.
The Reggie Miller Era and the First Playoff Clash (1995–2002)
By the mid-1990s, the Pacers were legitimate Eastern Conference contenders. Reggie Miller was one of the most dangerous clutch shooters in the league, and Indiana had surrounded him with tough veterans like Rik Smits, Dale Davis, and Mark Jackson.
The first playoff meeting between these two franchises came in 1998 — and it wasn’t close. Indiana, fresh off a franchise-record 58-win regular season, met Cleveland in the first round. The Pacers dismantled the Cavaliers 3-1 in the best-of-five series. Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, and Jalen Rose led the charge, while Cleveland’s Shawn Kemp and Zydrunas Ilgauskas couldn’t keep up with Indiana’s pace. The Pacers then rolled past the Knicks and pushed the Chicago Bulls to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals, finishing as one of the elite teams of that era.
From there, Indiana went on to reach the NBA Finals in 2000, where they lost to the Shaquille O’Neal–led Los Angeles Lakers. That run elevated the Pacers into a legitimate franchise with serious history. Cleveland, meanwhile, was stuck in a rebuild. The Cavaliers didn’t return to the playoffs until 2006, when a 21-year-old named LeBron James changed everything.
The LeBron Era Shift: Cavaliers Take Control (2006–2014)
LeBron James’ arrival gave Cleveland something it hadn’t had in a long time — a reason to believe in a championship. The Cavaliers made the playoffs in 2006 and reached the NBA Finals in 2007, though they were swept by San Antonio Spurs. During this stretch, Indiana was in decline. Paul George hadn’t emerged yet, and the Pacers were stuck in a mid-table cycle.
When Paul George finally burst onto the scene around 2012–2014, Indiana reclaimed its status as an Eastern Conference force. The Pacers won 56 games in 2013–14 and were widely expected to represent the East in the Finals. They dominated the Cavaliers in the regular season during this run, putting together that 9-game win streak mentioned earlier. But the Pacers never got a playoff matchup with LeBron’s Cavs during this stretch — their paths didn’t cross until the LeBron era resumed in Cleveland after his Miami stint.
LeBron Dominates the Rivalry (2017–2018)
The most one-sided chapter in this rivalry came in consecutive playoff meetings — and LeBron James was the reason.
In 2017, the Cavaliers were defending champions. Indiana had a solid team led by Paul George, but it didn’t matter. Cleveland swept the Pacers 4-0 in the first round without breaking a real sweat. LeBron James averaged 32.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in those four games. Paul George played well enough, but he had no real supporting cast to match what Cleveland brought.
2018 was a completely different story. Victor Oladipo had taken over as Indiana’s undisputed leader after Paul George was traded to Oklahoma City, and the Pacers came out firing in Game 1, stunning Cleveland 98-80. The series went to a deciding Game 7 — one of the most memorable nights in this entire rivalry. LeBron James put up 45 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 105-101 Cavaliers win. It remains one of the greatest individual playoff performances in the history of this matchup. Cleveland escaped, but Indiana had made a genuine statement: this team could push anyone to the limit.
Head-to-Head Stats: What the Numbers Say
Here’s how the all-time Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers timeline breaks down by the numbers:
All-Time Overall Record (Regular Season + Playoffs)
- Pacers: 121 wins
- Cavaliers: 117 wins
- Pacers edge: 50.8%
Regular Season Only (219 games)
- Pacers: 111 wins
- Cavaliers: 108 wins
Playoff Record
- Total games: 20
- Both teams: 10 wins each
- Series record: 2-2 (tied)
Largest Wins
- Pacers’ biggest margin: 48 points (136-88, December 10, 1999)
- Cavaliers’ biggest margin: 32 points (happened twice; last time December 9, 2006)
Longest Win Streaks
- Cavaliers: 10 games (Nov 1991 – Dec 1993)
- Pacers: 9 games (Apr 2012 – Jan 2014)
2025-26 Season (through January 6, 2026)
- Cavaliers: 3-0 in the regular season so far
The regular season edge belongs to Indiana, but the real battleground has been the playoffs. And the most dramatic chapter of this rivalry happened just last year.
Cavaliers lovers oftern explore: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Knicks Timeline
The 2025 Playoff Upset: Haliburton Breaks Cleveland’s Heart
Cleveland entered the 2025 playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s top seed with a 64-18 regular season record — their best since LeBron’s 2016 championship run. The Cavaliers swept Miami in the first round and looked unstoppable. Indiana was the fourth seed, a scrappy but exciting team built around Tyrese Haliburton’s playmaking and Pascal Siakam’s veteran presence.
Nobody saw what was coming.
Game 1 — Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112. Andrew Nembhard poured in 23 points and Haliburton added 22 with 13 assists. Indiana handed Cleveland their first playoff loss of the postseason. It was a statement.
Game 2 was the game that will be talked about for years. The Cavaliers led 119-112 with 57 seconds left. Donovan Mitchell had just scored his 48th point of the night. Cleveland played three key players short — Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, and De’Andre Hunter were all out injured. But somehow, the Pacers weren’t done.
Aaron Nesmith dunked. Pascal Siakam laid it in. Andrew Nembhard stole the inbound pass. Then Haliburton — fouled with the Pacers down three — missed his second free throw intentionally, caught his own rebound, and drilled a three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to win 120-119. The Cavaliers’ win probability had been at 98% before the final run. Indiana had become only one of three NBA teams since 1997-98 to win a playoff game after trailing by seven or more in the final minute.
Game 3 saw Cleveland bounce back at home, winning 126-104. Games 4 and 5 went back to Cleveland, where Haliburton closed it out with 31 points in a 114-105 win. The Pacers won the series 4-1, eliminating the best team in the East and going on to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals for just the second time in franchise history.
Home vs Away Edge
One consistent trend throughout the Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers timeline is that home court matters — but not as much as you’d think.
In the regular season, Cleveland holds a home record of roughly 64-35 against Indiana at their own arena. But the Pacers have pushed back on the road more than expected, compiling a respectable road record against Cleveland across the rivalry’s history. The 2025 playoffs were the clearest example: Indiana won Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland before closing things out again on the road. Road wins define clutch teams, and Indiana has proven it can win in hostile environments.
Tactical Analysis: Why Indiana Keeps Finding Ways to Win
What makes this matchup so unpredictable is the stylistic contrast between these franchises.
Cleveland tends to rely on isolations and half-court sets built around the brilliance of their star — whether that was LeBron James or Donovan Mitchell in recent years. The Cavaliers are patient, defensively disciplined, and built to slow the game down. Under J.B. Bickerstaff and then Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland’s defensive identity has been central to their success.
Indiana does the opposite. The Pacers play at one of the fastest paces in the league. They thrive on ball movement, off-ball screens, and their ability to get out in transition. Haliburton’s no-look passes and drive-and-kick game creates open looks that Cleveland’s defense can’t always track. In a seven-game series, that pace difference eventually tilts things Indiana’s way — opponents get worn down, rotations break, and the Pacers’ depth becomes a weapon.
What the 2025-26 Season Looks Like
In the current 2025-26 NBA season, Cleveland has flipped the script. The Cavaliers have won all three matchups against Indiana so far, including a 120-116 road win on January 6, 2026. It’s a small sample, but it signals that this rivalry continues to produce tight, meaningful games.
The Cavaliers are clearly motivated after last year’s playoff exit. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Darius Garland are a legitimate core, and a healthy Cleveland team is a legitimate contender. Indiana, meanwhile, is still building off their NBA Finals run in 2025 with one of the most exciting young rosters in the East.
If these two meet again in the 2026 playoffs, expect fireworks.
Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats of Last Game 2026
Cleaveland Cavaliers Boxscores
| Player | Pos | PTS | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Mitchell | G | 38 | 32:51 | 16 | 27 | 59.3 | 2 | 7 | 28.6 | 4 | 5 | 80.0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +8 |
| James Harden | G | 28 | 34:17 | 8 | 17 | 47.1 | 5 | 11 | 45.5 | 7 | 8 | 87.5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +12 |
| Thomas Bryant | C | 14 | 26:14 | 6 | 9 | 66.7 | 2 | 4 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +4 |
| Keon Ellis | F | 13 | 33:19 | 5 | 9 | 55.6 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +8 |
| Dennis Schröder | G | 6 | 20:01 | 2 | 6 | 33.3 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +12 |
| Larry Nance Jr. | F | 6 | 21:46 | 2 | 6 | 33.3 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +5 |
| Craig Porter Jr. | G | 5 | 22:34 | 2 | 4 | 50.0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +10 |
| Nae’Qwan Tomlin | F | 3 | 13:13 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | +1 |
| Max Strus | F | 4 | 30:56 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 1 | 9 | 11.1 | 1 | 2 | 50.0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -8 |
| Tyrese Proctor | G | 0 | 4:49 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -7 |
Indiana Pacers Boxscores
| Player | Pos | PTS | MIN | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obi Toppin | F | 21 | 23:28 | 4 | 10 | 40.0 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 10 | 10 | 100.0 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Micah Potter | C | 21 | 30:23 | 6 | 10 | 60.0 | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 6 | 8 | 75.0 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -8 |
| Jalen Slawson | F | 19 | 32:44 | 7 | 11 | 63.6 | 5 | 7 | 71.4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -2 |
| Quenton Jackson | F | 15 | 28:53 | 5 | 14 | 35.7 | 1 | 4 | 25.0 | 4 | 5 | 80.0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +3 |
| Kobe Brown | G | 11 | 39:48 | 3 | 10 | 30.0 | 3 | 7 | 42.9 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -16 |
| Taelon Peter | G | 8 | 18:23 | 3 | 6 | 50.0 | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -10 |
| Ethan Thompson | G | 5 | 29:37 | 1 | 12 | 8.3 | 0 | 6 | 0.0 | 3 | 4 | 75.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | +1 |
| Jay Huff | C | 6 | 17:37 | 3 | 6 | 50.0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| Kam Jones | G | 2 | 19:07 | 1 | 7 | 14.3 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -12 |
FAQs
What is the all-time head-to-head record between the Pacers and Cavaliers?
The Pacers lead all-time with 121 wins to the Cavaliers’ 117 across regular season and playoff games combined, through the 2025-26 season.
How many times have the Pacers and Cavaliers met in the NBA playoffs?
They have met four times in the playoffs — 1998, 2017, 2018, and 2025. The series record is tied at 2-2.
Who won the 2025 playoff series between the Pacers and Cavaliers?
The Indiana Pacers won the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals 4-1. They went on to reach the NBA Finals, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games.
What was the biggest win in Pacers vs Cavaliers history?
Indiana’s 136-88 win on December 10, 1999 stands as the largest margin — a 48-point blowout at home in the regular season.
Who had the most points in a single Pacers vs Cavaliers playoff game?
Donovan Mitchell scored 48 points in a losing effort in Game 2 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a night that still ended in a stunning Pacers comeback win.
What is the longest winning streak in this head-to-head rivalry?
Cleveland’s longest run is 10 straight wins between November 1991 and December 1993. Indiana’s best streak was 9 consecutive wins from April 2012 to January 2014.
Did LeBron James ever lose to the Pacers in the playoffs?
No. LeBron’s teams went 2-0 in playoff series against Indiana — a sweep in 2017 and a seven-game series win in 2018 (Game 7: LeBron had 45 points).
Who is the leading scorer in Pacers vs Cavaliers playoff history on Indiana’s side?
Reggie Miller led the Pacers in their 1998 playoff win, while Tyrese Haliburton has been the defining player of the most recent era, delivering multiple clutch moments in the 2025 series.
Final Thought
The Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers timeline spans nearly five decades of Central Division basketball. From Reggie Miller’s 1998 first-round dismantling of Cleveland, to LeBron’s back-to-back playoff wins in 2017 and 2018, to Haliburton’s impossible shot in 2025 — this rivalry refuses to be boring. The numbers are almost perfectly split, the series records are tied, and the current 2025-26 season already has Cleveland pushing back.
One thing is certain: the next time these two teams meet with something on the line, neither side is going home without a fight.
