Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 12/01/25

I expected more from the Cavaliers in last night’s game against the Celtics, but unfortunately they failed to deliver as -7.5 favorites. Payton Pritchard torched them for 42 points and 6 3-pointers made, but the effort on defense just wasn’t there. The good thing about the NBA is that the Cavs get a chance to redeem themselves very quickly following that, as they take on the Indiana Pacers. Cleveland is already up 1-0 in the regular-season series, but are we ready to trust them after 3 consecutive defeats? Jarrett Allen, Larry Nance, Lonzo Ball, Sam Merrill and Max Strus all remain out with injuries, so the depth of the Cavs just isn’t there at the moment.

Indiana knows a thing or 2 about injuries. Half of the team has been out for the most part of these first 20 games of the season, and the record reflects that. Things seem to be moving in the right direction, though, as Indy won 2 straight games games against the Wizards and Bulls in a back-to-back scenario. Granted, Cleveland is a whole new level compared to those 2 teams — but then again the recent form of the Cavs warrants us thinking twice before backing against the Pacers here. Pascal Siakam is a nightly 20+ point guarantee, while Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin are capable of delivering big-time performances on occasions when you least expect them to.

It’s only a matter of time until the Cavs turn things around — but until they do, I’m not touching them. Despite their poor record this season, Indiana has been a reliable bet in home games covering 7 times in 10 outings. Plus, all 4 of their wins this season came at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. I’ll give Indy the nod here.

Cavaliers vs Pacers prediction: Indiana +6.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

If you’re looking for a new sportsbook for the football season, we recommend checking out Fanatics Sportsbook. New users can get $250 in FanCash INSTANTLY when they make their first $50 wager! Join Fanatics Sportsbook, where you can bet on our Cavaliers vs Pacers predictions.