It's one of those weird NBA quirks. You look at the pacers vs cavs schedule for the 2025-26 season and realize these two teams have been basically living in each other's pockets. Seriously. After that gritty five-game playoff series last May where Indiana shocked everyone by bouncing a 64-win Cleveland team, the league office clearly decided we needed a heavy dose of the rematch.
But man, things have changed fast.
Last year, the Pacers were the high-flying, "we’ll outrun you even if we're gushing blood" darlings of the East. Now? They’re grinding through a nightmare. Tyrese Haliburton being out for the season with that Achilles injury hasn't just hurt the win-loss column; it’s changed the entire DNA of how they play. Meanwhile, the Cavs are looking like they’ve finally figured out how to use Evan Mobley as a true offensive hub.
📖 Related: Spanish La Liga Leading Goal Scorer: Why Mbappé Is Ruining the Race
Mapping Out the Remaining Pacers vs Cavs Schedule
If you're trying to circle dates on your calendar, you've actually missed the bulk of the "regular" meetings, but the finale is a big one. The two teams have already knocked out three of their four scheduled regular-season contests.
Cleveland took the most recent battle on January 6, 2026, in a game that was way closer than it should have been. Darius Garland basically decided he wasn't losing that night, dropping 14 points in the fourth quarter to break Indiana's hearts 120-116. It was a brutal watch if you're a Pacers fan, mainly because it extended their losing streak to 13 games.
Here is what the schedule has looked like and what’s left:
- November 21, 2025: Cleveland stomped Indiana 120-109 at Rocket Arena. This was an Emirates NBA Cup game, and the Pacers just looked outclassed without their floor general.
- December 1, 2025: A quick turnaround in Indianapolis. The Cavs ground out another win, proving that their size is just a massive problem for Indy's smaller frontline.
- January 6, 2026: The Garland takeover game. Indiana showed some life, but Cleveland’s 55% shooting from the floor was just too efficient to overcome.
- April 5, 2026: This is the big one. Mark it down. It’s Easter Sunday. The game tips off at 6:00 PM ET back in Cleveland at Rocket Arena.
That April matchup is fascinating. By then, Cleveland will likely be jockeying for a top-three seed to avoid a first-round date with Boston. Indiana? They might be in full "evaluation mode" or playing spoiler. Either way, Easter in Cleveland is the last time these two see each other before the summer, unless the play-in tournament gets weird.
Why the Location Matters for the Rematch
Honestly, playing in Cleveland has been a house of horrors for the Pacers lately. While they dominated the Cavs at Rocket Arena during the 2025 playoffs—winning several games there to clinch the series—the regular season has been a different story.
The crowd in Cleveland has a long memory. They haven't forgotten the 4-1 series loss from last spring. Every time Rick Carlisle’s squad rolls into town, the atmosphere is playoff-level intense.
The Matchup Nightmare: Size vs. Speed
When you look at the pacers vs cavs schedule, you aren't just looking at dates; you're looking at a clash of styles that has completely flipped. Last season, the Pacers' pace was an "awful matchup" for Cleveland, as many analysts on Reddit and ESPN pointed out. The Cavs couldn't get their bodies back in transition fast enough.
👉 See also: La Liga de Campeones de la UEFA 2025-26: Por qué el nuevo formato ya no es una sorpresa
Now, without Haliburton to push the break, the Pacers are forced into more half-court sets. That plays right into the hands of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. It's like trying to run through a forest of arms.
Cleveland’s defense is currently ranked in the top five for a reason. They aren't just tall; they’re disciplined. In the January 6th game, the Cavs outrebounded Indy 57 to 43. You can’t win games when you're giving up that many second-chance opportunities.
Key Players to Watch in the April Finale
For Cleveland, it’s all about Donovan Mitchell's health. He’s been playing "fewer" minutes lately to stay fresh, but he always turns it up against Indy. Last playoffs, he had games of 48 and 43 points against them. He treats this matchup like a personal vendetta.
For the Pacers, keep an eye on Bennedict Mathurin. With the season largely lost, he’s been given the green light to just go. He’s been inconsistent—some nights he looks like an All-Star, others he can't find the rim—but he’s the kind of chaotic element that can upset the Cavs' rhythm.
Watching the Games: TV and Streaming
If you're trying to catch that final April 5th game, it's not a national TV exclusive like some of the earlier ones. The November game was on Amazon Prime Video, but the April finale is mostly a local broadcast affair.
- Bally Sports Great Lakes: For the Cleveland market.
- Bally Sports Indiana: For the folks in Indy.
- NBA League Pass: If you're out of market, this is your best bet.
- Tickets: Surprisingly, you can still grab seats for that April game for as low as $21 on secondary markets like SeatGeek. That’s a steal for a late-season Eastern Conference matchup.
What This Means for Your Betting Slips
If you're looking at the betting trends for the remainder of the pacers vs cavs schedule, be careful. Cleveland is currently 6-10 against the spread (ATS) this season when favored by more than 8 points. They have a tendency to play down to their competition sometimes.
💡 You might also like: What Time is the Super Bowl Today? (Wait, You’re a Few Weeks Early)
Indiana, despite their record, has actually covered in 40% of their games where the total was set high. They still try to score, even if they can't stop anybody. If the spread for April 5th is double digits, taking the Pacers to cover might not be the worst "garbage time" bet you've ever made.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're planning on following the rest of this season series, here is how to stay ahead:
- Check the Injury Report 2 Hours Before Tip-off: The Cavs have been resting starters on the tail end of back-to-backs. Don't get caught betting on a game where Mitchell and Garland are wearing hoodies on the bench.
- Set a Calendar Alert for March 20: That’s usually when the NBA starts flexing games. While the April 5th game is currently set for 6:00 PM, the league could move it if the playoff implications get spicy.
- Monitor the Pacers' Draft Position: If they fall into the bottom three, expect them to play their younger players (Jarace Walker, etc.) significantly more minutes in the final Cavs game to see what they have for 2027.
The rivalry isn't what it was six months ago, but the tension is still there. Cleveland wants to erase the memory of that playoff exit, and Indiana is just trying to find a reason to be hopeful for next year. That April 5th game will tell us a lot about both.