Winners and Losers: Cavs vs Pacers – Darius Garland makes triumphant return

The Cleveland Cavaliers kept their NBA Cup eligibility alive behind a 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers. Let’s see who won the night.

It’s been a long season. We’re only in November, but it’s felt long. This is partly because of the waiting game we’ve had to play in waiting for Darius Garland to be healthy and available.

We got our wish tonight.

Garland returned to the lineup after missing 13 of Cleveland’s 16 games so far this season. His impact was immediate, scoring 18 points in the first half and lifting the Cavaliers’ offense back to where it needs to be. Garland is one of the best shot creators in basketball, and his advantage creation is everything the Cavs have been missing.

The Cavs leaned on Garland throughout the first half. That made it easier for Donovan Mitchell to settle into his groove and dominate the second half. Mitchell scored 14 points in the third quarter, while Garland finished his first game back with 20 points and 7 assists.

Someone else made their return tonight. Tyson came back to the starting lineup after missing his previous four games with a concussion. His return wasn’t as notable as Garland’s, but Tyson is quickly becoming one of the most impactful players on this team.

Tyson has turned in good minutes all season. He’s managed to contribute through his hustle and physicality, always providing something even if he isn’t scoring the ball. But tonight, he was especially helpful, nailing his first six shots and scoring 14 points in 27 minutes. He also grabbed 8 rebounds, helping Cleveland win on the margins all night long.

As mentioned, the Cavs won the rebounding battle tonight. What’s worth noting is that they did this without Jarrett Allen, who missed the game with a finger injury.

Allen and Mobley receive frequent criticism for the Cavs’ rebounding issues. But the team is significantly better at cleaning the glass when both bigs are on the floor. Their problems often arise when one of Mobley or Allen is off the court. That’s why tonight could have been a struggle.

Instead, the Cavs’ backcourt did everything they could to chip in. Mitchell, Tyson and Ball combined for 24 rebounds while De’Andre Hunter added 7 more. Mobley anchored the defense, recording 4 blocks to go with a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Cavs built a cozy 22-point lead in the second half. Everything was comfortable until the Pacers decided otherwise.

A 14-0 run in the fourth quarter made it appear like Indiana was going to complete another stunning comeback after delivering multiple in last year’s playoffs. Thankfully, Lonzo Ball stepped up.

Ball threw a nifty pass to De’Andre Hunter to score an easy bucket and end the Pacers’ run. On the other end of the floor, Ball rejected a shot attempt at the rim, which led directly to a runout opportunity and another bucket for Hunter.

Just like that, the Cavs responded with a 9-0 run of their own to put this game back out of reach. Ball deserves a nod for reclaiming the momentum.