The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a rare home loss to the Indiana Pacers in their last matchup. On Tuesday, Cleveland will look to get back on track in an 8.5-point matchup with their Central Division rival.
Our predictions for the Cavaliers vs Pacers matchup expect Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell to make Cleveland play like an NBA championship contender again.
We also expect T.J. McConnell to step to the forefront in Tyrese Haliburton's absence when the Cavaliers and Pacers play at 7 p.m. ET (TNT, truTV, Max) from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Cavaliers vs Pacers players prediction for today
Player confidence on a scale of 1 to 5 stars; odds at our top NBA betting sites.
Jarrett Allen: Will post a double-double (+105 on DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
T.J. McConnell prop pick: Over 5.5 assists (-104 on FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Donovan Mitchell prop pick: Over 23.5 points (-102 on FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Check out our NBA Player Odds tool for the latest odds at the best legal bookmakers in your area.
Best predictions for Cavaliers vs Pacers matchup
Jarrett Allen prop pick: Will get a double-double ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Allen is averaging 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in 29 minutes this season. He has completed a double-double in 22 of 38 games, which is 57.8%. We get this bet on the plus side, which makes it a very favorable bet.
Allen has been on the rise over the last six years, averaging 18.1 points, 11 rebounds and six double-doubles. He posted an 11/9 performance against the Pacers on Sunday, but he played just 23 minutes in that game.
The Pacers have centers averaging 22.1 points and 15.7 rebounds, and we can expect a return game from Allen tonight as his team looks to get back in the win column after a nasty loss.
Best Odds: +105 on DraftKings | Estimated Odds: 48.78%
T.J. McConnell: More than 5.5 assists ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tyrese Haliburton will likely miss his first game of the season, and McConnell could replace him in the starting five. That should mean an increase in minutes and assists, making this matchup an easy choice for an up-tempo game.
McConnell played 12 games without Hali last season, and he contributed at least six assists in seven of those games. He averaged 7.3 assists and his minutes increased to 22.6 per game.
This season, McConnell is averaging just 4.6 assists per game, but is doing it in less than 20 minutes. In six seasons with the Pacers, he averaged 9.1 assists per 36 minutes. McConnell contributed eight assists in Sunday's win over Cleveland, assuming the role of primary playmaker after the early departure of Haliburton.
Best odds: -104 on FanDuel | Estimated odds: 50.98%
Donovan Mitchell matchup prediction: Over 23.5 points ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mitchell is scoring just 22.8 points per game this season, which is his lowest since his rookie season. Despite the drop in scoring, we can expect him to score over 23 points tonight against Indiana.
Speed has scored an average of 31.1 points per game in seven games with the Pacers since arriving in Cleveland. That's the third-highest total of any team in that time. He has scored more in five of those games.
Mitchell scored just 19 points in Sunday's home game against Indiana, but he's averaging just 21.8 points at home versus 24.1 on the road this season. On the road, he has scored at least 24 points in eight of 16 games, and he should be motivated tonight to get his team back on track.
Best odds: -102 on FanDuel | Estimated odds: 50.50%
Information about Cavaliers vs Pacers matchup
When: Tuesday, Jan. 14.
Start: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
How to watch: TNT, truTV, Max.
Favorite: Cavaliers -8.5 (-105 via BetMGM)
