The Indiana Pacers put the Cleveland Cavaliers on their heels with a stunning win in Game 1 of this Eastern Conference semifinal.
Game 2's line jumping to 10 points for the home favorite indicates Clevenald will have standout guard Darius Garland in action, which has my Pacers vs. Cavaliers predictions eyeing up reserve guard Ty Jerome.
Read my NBA picks to discover how I'm fading him in this May 6 matchup.
Who will win Pacers vs Cavaliers Game 2?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are reeling after the Indiana Pacers ran it into the floor in Game 1. However, if Darius Garland can get back out there, the Cavs can fight fire with fire.
Outright odds say the Cavs have an 83% implied win probability on Tuesday, and I like Cleveland to even this series with a win at home.
Pacers vs Cavaliers prediction
My best bet: Ty Jerome Under 14.5 Points (-120 at bet365)
Ty Jerome has been a godsend for the Cavaliers in the playoffs. The backup guard averaged more than 16 points against the Miami Heat in Round 1 and has put up 13, 18, and 21 points in the three games with Darius Garland on the sideline (sprained toe).
With Garland unable to go for Game 1 against the Pacers, Jerome came off the bench for 29 minutes and scored 21 points. He fired up 20 field-goal attempts — making eight of those shots — and added four makes on five attempts at the line.
Those 20 shots were a season high for Jerome, who averaged just under nine FGAs this season. Even against the Heat, he averaged just 10.5 shots for the series. If Garland is coming back for Game 2 — and the spread moving from -9 to -10 indicates he is — Jerome won’t see the same amount of offensive activity or floor time.
Despite that shuffle, Jerome’s Game 2 scoring prop is at 14.5 points O/U, the same number from the previous two outings without Garland on the floor. While the status of Cleveland’s All-Star guard is still in the air, there’s a good chance he suits up Tuesday night. Jerome's points props were sitting at 8.5 O/U to start the playoffs.
Garland has been off since April 23, and before the series opener with Indiana, he had practiced without issue on Friday and Saturday. However, the team made the call to rest him for one more game so as not to rush him back and risk further injury. He told sideline reporters he was optimistic about playing Tuesday, and HC Kenny Atkinson had this to say after Game 1:
He wasn’t ready. It’s a day-to-day thing. We’ll check him tomorrow. I know he’s desperate to play. We need his speed and shotmaking. I mean, he’s an All-Star. We’ll check him tomorrow, and I’ll check in with him, see where he is.
Cleveland is feeling the squeeze after losing on Sunday, especially with how the Pacers live up to their team moniker. Jerome is by no means quick, and Garland’s foot speed will be a huge boost to Cleveland on both ends of the floor.
With Garland in action, early player projections have Jerome pegged for around 12 points over 21 minutes of play. Looking at the initial market movement on his scoring prop, Under 14.5 points opened around -130 at sharper books and has now climbed to -155 with money getting out ahead of the Garland updates.
You can find this Under 14.5 option priced at -120 at bet365 — a bet that could blow up in my face should Garland sit out again.
Pacers vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
Ty Jerome Under 14.5 points
Darius Garland Over 17.5 points
Jarrett Allen Over 12.5 points
If Garland does sit, Jerome won’t come anywhere near the 20 shots he took in Game 1. Even if he does get good minutes, the Cavs need him feeding the frontcourt.
Garland would embrace the pace of this Indiana team, and the Pacers have trouble slowing down explosive guards like Garland. Models call for 19 or more.
The Pacers got blasted in the paint, and Jarrett Allen should get his share of touches inside. He’s projected for 14 points in Game 2.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Pacers vs Cavaliers odds
Pacers vs Cavaliers live odds
Pacers vs Cavaliers opening odds
- Spread: Indiana +9.5 | Cleveland -9.5
- Moneyline: Indiana +325 | Cleveland -425
- Over/Under: Over 229.5 | Under 229.5
Odds courtesy of bet365
Pacers vs Cavaliers spread and Over/Under analysis
- After losing Game 1, Cleveland opened as a nine-point home favorite and quickly jumped to -10 with Darius Garland expected to play on Tuesday.
- Surprisingly, the total hasn’t jumped, hitting the board at 229.5 O/U. Game 1’s final score eclipsed the closing number of 228.5 O/U.
- According to Covers Consensus, 68% of picks are grabbing the points with the Pacers, while 60% of total picks are taking the Over.
Pacers vs Cavaliers trend
The Cleveland Cavaliers have gone Over their team total in 53 of their last 89 games (+14.75 Unit /14% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pacers vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Pacers vs Cavaliers
| Location | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH |
| Date | Tuesday, 5-6-2025 |
| Tip-off | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
Pacers vs Cavaliers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
