Cleveland Cavaliers @ Indiana Pacers - May 9, 2025

As the Cleveland Cavaliers prepare to face off against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, there’s a palpable buzz surrounding this matchup. With both teams showcasing impressive records and recent performances, it’s shaping up to be an exciting contest.

The Cavaliers come into this game with a remarkable 68-20 record, boasting a solid 51-36-1 mark against the spread (ATS). They’ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster lately, going 4-2 straight up in their last six games. However, one trend stands out: they have gone OVER the total in six of their last seven outings. This suggests that not only are they scoring effectively but also allowing enough points to push totals higher than expected.

On the offensive end, Cleveland is firing on all cylinders. Averaging nearly 122 points per game with an efficient shooting percentage of approximately 49.2%, they’re proving to be a formidable force. Their three-point shooting is also noteworthy at around 38.4%, which adds another layer to their offensive arsenal. Despite averaging just under 28 assists per game, it’s clear that their ability to score efficiently has been key in securing victories.

Defensively, while they allow some points—averaging about 45 rebounds and committing nearly 18 fouls per game—they still manage to create turnovers with almost nine steals per outing and maintain control over possessions with fewer turnovers than Indiana.

Meanwhile, the Pacers enter this contest riding high on a four-game winning streak and sporting a respectable overall record of 56-33 (42-46-1 ATS). Their recent form includes going 7-1 straight up in their last eight games and covering six of their last eight spreads as well. Like Cleveland, Indiana has seen totals go OVER in five of their last six matchups; thus indicating that both teams have been trending towards higher-scoring affairs.

Offensively, Indiana averages just over 117 points per game with an effective shooting percentage hovering near 49%. They excel from beyond the arc at roughly 37% but struggle slightly more from the free throw line compared to Cleveland at about 79%. The Pacers’ assist numbers are lower than those of the Cavaliers—around just under thirty—but they compensate for it by being aggressive on offense.

Defensively though, there are areas where Indiana can improve; they average over thirteen turnovers lost each game while committing nearly nineteen fouls. Additionally, despite grabbing around forty-two rebounds per game and making almost eight steals defensively, these stats suggest potential vulnerabilities that Cleveland could exploit.

With oddsmakers opening Cleveland as -1.5 favorites and an Over/Under set at 228.5 points for this matchup, I predict that we will see the Cavaliers emerge victorious tonight while also covering the spread due to their superior scoring efficiency and defense metrics when compared head-to-head with Indiana’s defensive struggles. Expect both teams’ offenses to shine bright again—leading us toward yet another high-scoring affair that likely goes OVER once more!