- CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) - The Cleveland Cavaliers finished their regular season with a 126-118 loss to the Indiana Pacers Sunday afternoon.
With both teams already locked into their playoff positions, the injury report was extensive, and each side took a cautious approach heading into the postseason.
What seemed like a runaway win turned the opposite direction, as the Cavaliers’ 27-point third-quarter lead evaporated. The Pacers stormed back, forcing double overtime and securing a victory in their final game of the season. This marks the first time in 11 years the Pacers have won 50 games in a season, finishing at 50-32.
For the Cavs, Nae'Qwan Tomlin, Emoni Bates, and Craig Porter Jr. were all able to record 20 points or more.
Here are top Wine & Gold nuggets from Sunday evening.
82/82 - Jarrett Allen has been vocal about wanting to play in all 82 games during the 2024-25 season.
“I like the number, it’s nothing special,” Allen laughed about the goal earlier this month. “It’s good to play all 82. I just want to look on Basketball-Reference and see 82 out of 82.”
With the rest of the core four and starters sitting, Allen was allowed the opportunity to hit the mark.
After starting the game and attempting only his fifth three-point shot on the season [0-5], the big checked out of the game after 41 seconds on the court, and accomplished his goal.
Allen is now one of six Cavs players to play in all 82 games in the regular season since 2007, alongside Lebron James, Collin Sexton, Alonzo Gee, Tristion Thompson, and Georges Niang.
That’s My Vet - Tristan Thompson is one of two Cavaliers [Max Strus] on the roster with NBA Finals experience.
While Thompson isn’t a regular starter or a key contributor off the bench, Kenny Atkinson views him as an important piece the team will lean on during the playoffs.
“We’re gonna need him. I just feel it. There’s gonna be a time in the playoffs where we’re not rebounding the ball and we’re gonna need his physicality and know-how,” said Atkinson.
During the Cavaliers’ 2016 championship run, Tristan Thompson was one of the younger contributors on a veteran-laden roster. Nearly a decade later, he finds himself in a different role—now a seasoned presence on a team defined by its youth and depth.
“It’s two totally different teams. I think this team is much more younger, and hungry, and youth,” said Thompson. “This team, we’ve got so much talent, so much depth. These guys are hungry.”
On Sunday, Thompson logged the most minutes in a game since Jan. 9, 2020, during an overtime victory over the Detroit Pistons, and capped off the performance with 20 boards against the Pacers. It was the first time since Jan. 20, 2020, that the veteran pulled down 20 or more rebounds in a game.
Starting 5 – With the Eastern Conference already clinched, Kenny Atkinson decided on load management for a majority of his starters and key role players.
Craig Porter Jr., Javonte Green, Jaylon Tyson, Nae’Qwan Tomlin, and Jarrett Allen were announced as Sunday’s starters with Tristion Thompson, Emoni Bates, Luke Travers, and Chuma Okeke available off the bench.
Up Next – It has now become a waiting game for the Cavs to see who will be their first round opponent in the playoffs. The NBA Play-In Tournament starts April 15-18. Cleveland will know Friday which of the following teams they’ll see during the first round. – Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, or Miami Heat.
Regardless of the opponent, the Cavaliers approach the postseason with a clear focus and a strong competitive edge, signaling their intent to make a deep run.
“We’re hungry. This group is hungry,” said Atkinson. “They want to prove themselves. They want to prove they can get to the next level. I think we all have a chip on our shoulder.”
The Cavaliers will hold the homecourt advantage through the Conference Finals.