Final Score: Cleveland Cavaliers take down Indiana Pacers 129-120

The Cleveland Cavaliers took care of business in one of their most important games of the season, knocking down the Indiana Pacers to clinch a spot in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Nightly Notables

Where would this season have gone without Jarrett Allen? I don’t want to know.

Allen recorded his 42nd double-double of the season behind a 29-point, 13-rebound effort. He was a force of nature on the glass and relentlessly rolled his way to the rim. Allen’s presence in the paint helped Cleveland control the game for most of the night.

Donovan Mitchell increasingly looks like his usual self, pouring in a game-high 33 points tonight. His knee is a lingering concern, but Mitchell appears to be making progress as he was more spry tonight than in recent games.

Caris LeVert was also good off of the Cavs bench. He scored 16 points, snagged 6 rebounds and dealt 5 assists in an all-around sound performance.

However, when the game was hanging in the balance, it was Darius Garland who delivered. Garland wasn’t at his best through three quarters. But down the stretch, Garland buried multiple backbreakers to close the deal. Garland finished shooting 4-5 from downtown.

Well, that happened…

It’s been a season full of adversity for Garland — especially, at the end of games. That’s why this clutch three-pointer to put Cleveland in the diver’s seat was such a big moment for Garland.

Hopefully, some of this momentum can carry over into the playoffs.

Big Picture

Don’t ask me to break down the Eastern Conference standings. It’s too complicated of a mess. All I can assure you is that with this victory, the Cavaliers have avoided the Play-In Tournament and will compete in the playoffs again this season.

Their final game is on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets. By then, the Cavs will know which opponent they will face in the postseason. All of it comes down to this — the success of this current season will be entirely determined by how they compete in the playoffs.