Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points and Jarrett Allen had an impressive 29-point, 13-rebound performance, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers (48-33) to a 129-120 victory over the Indiana Pacers (46-35) on Friday night to secure a spot in the playoffs.
The Pacers mounted a late comeback, narrowing the gap to 120-118, but crucial plays by Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro sealed the win for the Cavaliers.
Despite Mitchell’s injury setbacks, the Cavaliers managed to clinch a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 19 points and 12 assists, while Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner contributed 19 and 17 points, respectively.
As the playoffs draw near, the Pacers face uncertainty about their postseason fate, potentially setting up a matchup with the Atlanta Hawks.
Indiana must win against either Atlanta or hope for a Philadelphia 76ers loss on Sunday to secure their spot in the playoffs.
The Pacers’ seeding for the postseason is up in the air, with potential placements ranging from fifth to eighth in the Eastern Conference.
