Pacers blow 9-point fourth-quarter lead to lose team record 13th straight

4 days ago 2

INDIANAPOLIS -- For most of the game, it looked like the Indiana Pacers would finally shake its month-long losing streak.

But it wasn't in the cards Tuesday night.

Even with Donovan Mitchell out because of rest, Darius Garland scored 29 points and Evan Mobley scored 20 to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Pacers, 120-116, for Indiana's franchise-record 13th consecutive loss.

Here are three observations:

Disastrous fourth quarter dooms Pacers, who set franchise record

This looked like the game the Pacers could actually break out of their funk. The game where, after 12 straight losses, they could find enough in their lineup to get back into the win column for the first time in nearly a month.

Indiana won each of the first three quarters, methodically building to a nine-point lead going into the fourth. The Pacers needed 12 more minutes to pull off their first win in 13 games.

Then it came crashing down.

Cleveland came back, slowly but surely, until it took a lead at the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter. That lead went from one point, to three, to five, then to seven. And Indiana’s hopes to find a win washed away.

The loss is Indiana’s 13th in a row — a new franchise record. It surpasses the three other times Indiana had 12-game losing streaks in 1983, ‘85, ‘89, and 2022. And head coach Rick Carlisle, who has been on the cusp of his 1,000th career win as a head coach since Dec. 9, will continue to wait.

Pacers buck trend of second-quarter woes

The Pacers’ 2025-26 season has been defined, partly, by horrendous second quarters. It showed on Sunday in Orlando, when both the Pacers and the Magic had their largest leads of the game at 12 and 13 points, respectively, in the second quarter, and Orlando outscored Indiana 41-22 in 12 minutes.

But the Pacers bucked that trend, at least for one game, on Tuesday.

Indiana took a six-point lead into the second quarter, and through some ups and downs — including the Cavs taking the lead at one point — the Pacers escaped to halftime with a seven-point lead.

Jay Huff, who regained the starting center spot from Micah Potter on Tuesday, was a main driver of that second-half power. He went 4-of-5 from the field (2-of-3 from 3-point range) for 10 points. Aaron Nesmith was close behind with eight points.

Jay Huff rejoins starting lineup, keeps Pacers afloat

Huff has been a consistent starter for the Pacers this season, starting every game between Nov. 28 and Dec. 31. He went to the bench in the New Year in place of Micah Potter, who started on Jan. 2 and Jan. 4.

But Huff returned to the starting five on Tuesday, sending Potter back to the bench. And Huff showed why he deserved that spot.

He scored 10 points in the second quarter, keeping Indiana afloat, and finished the game with a 20 points. But it just wasn't enough for Indiana.

Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs Cavs: Indiana blows 9-point 4th-quarter lead, loses 13th in a row

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