Oddsmakers made Game 4 of this Cavaliers vs. Pacers series a Pick 'em at the open, but Cleveland moved to a 1-point road favourite.
LeBron James has never lost a first round series in 12 NBA playoff appearances but the Indiana Pacers are close to handing him his first early exit. The Pacers try to take a 3-1 series lead in this NBA matchup on Sunday when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 21 Apr 11:19am | CLE | -1 -110 | O +205.5 -110 |
| Closing 23 Apr 1:39am | CLE | -2 -115 | O +206.5 -120 |
The Pacers appear to have the Cavaliers’ number. Indiana is 5-2 straight up and 6-1 against the spread in seven games against the Cavs this season, and 16-5-1 ATS in the last 22 meetings between the two sides.
Cleveland has scored well below its season average in all but one of the seven games this season and the under has gone 5-1-1 during the same span.
The Pacers were one of the most consistent under teams in the league with their games finishing below the closing total in 51 of their 83 games played. Indiana went 24-17 ATS at the Fieldhouse during the regular season while the Cavaliers finished 19-22 against the number on the road.
Indiana is the new series favorite at -125 with the Cavaliers’ odds sitting at -111 on the Sports Interaction NBA futures board.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland isn’t prepared for whatever halftime adjustments Indiana is making. The Pacers are outscoring the Cavs by 39 points in second halves and by 22 points in the fourth quarters alone.
There was a video making the rounds on Twitter where LeBron James didn’t get back on defense which led to an easy Pacers bucket. It can be easy to single out this as a costly error in a game decided by a narrow margin (92-90), but let’s not overlook just how much work James is doing at the offensive end.
James has scored or assisted on 157 of the 270 points the Cavs have scored in the series. That’s almost 60 percent of the team’s buckets with LBJ directly involved.
Indiana Pacers
Bojan Bogdanovic was Indiana’s Game 3 hero thanks to his 30-point performance. His seven made triples tied a Pacers team playoff record and he missed only four of his 15 shots from the field. The veteran forward also drew the assignment of guarding LeBron for most of the game and did a decent job “holding” the four-time MVP to 28 points.
Injuries
JR Smith (SG)
George Hill (PG)
Rodney Hood (SG)
Kyle Korver (SG)
Tristan Thompson (C)
Jose Calderon (PG)
Jeff Green (SF)
Larry Nance Jr. (PF)
Cedi Osman (SF)
LeBron James (SF)
Joe Young (PG)
Bojan Bogdanovic (SF)
Thaddeus Young (PF)
Trevor Booker (PF)
Myles Turner (C)
TJ Leaf (PF)
Darren Collison (PG)
Lance Stephenson (SG)
Domantas Sabonis (C)
Victor Oladipo (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR Smith (SG) | Ques Mon | Illness - 06 / 05 / 18 | 7-6 | 6-7 | + - |
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Smith is ailing from an illness and it is unknown if he will play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors. |
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| George Hill (PG) | Prob Tues | Back - 01 / 05 / 18 | 8-7 | 8-7 | + - |
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Hill is nursing back soreness but is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors. |
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| Rodney Hood (SG) | Prob Wed | Personal - 18 / 04 / 18 | 9-12 | 9-12 | + - |
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Hood is likely to suit up against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a personal matter. |
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| Kyle Korver (SG) | Prob Wed | Illness - 16 / 04 / 18 | 9-12 | 9-12 | + - |
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Korver is dealing with an illness but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Tristan Thompson (C) | Prob Sun | Personal - 13 / 04 / 18 | 9-13 | 9-13 | + - |
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Thompson is away from the team due to the birth of his child but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Jose Calderon (PG) | Prob Mon | Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18 | 12-14 | 12-14 | + - |
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Calderon has sat out the last two games due to a sore left hamstring but is expected to be available for Monday's contest against the Knicks. |
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| Jeff Green (SF) | Prob Tues | Illness - 23 / 03 / 18 | 18-15 | 14-19 | + - |
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Green sat out the last game with whooping cough but is likely to play Tuesday against the Heat. |
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| Larry Nance Jr. (PF) | Ques Fri | Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18 | 20-18 | 18-20 | + - |
|
Nance Jr. has been held out of the previous four games with tightness in his right hamstring and it is unclear if he will return for Friday's matchup against the Suns. |
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| Cedi Osman (SF) | Prob Wed | Hip - 10 / 03 / 18 | 21-19 | 18-22 | + - |
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Osman has been sidelined with a left hip strain but is likely to return against the Hornets on Wednesday. |
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| LeBron James (SF) | Prob Tues | Leg - 12 / 02 / 18 | 25-24 | 22-27 | + - |
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James suffered a leg injury in the previous game but is expected to play Tuesday against the Thunder. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Young (PG) | Ques Fri | Illness - 19 / 04 / 18 | 4-1 | 1-4 | + - |
|
Young has missed the last two games due to a sinus infection and it is uncertain if he will play against the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Bojan Bogdanovic (SF) | Out Tues | Rest - 10 / 04 / 18 | 6-2 | 2-6 | + - |
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Bogdanovic will sit out Tuesday's game against the Hornets so that he can receive a day's rest. |
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| Thaddeus Young (PF) | Out Tues | Rest - 10 / 04 / 18 | 6-2 | 2-6 | + - |
|
Young will not suit up against the Hornets on Tuesday as he will be given the day off to rest. |
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| Trevor Booker (PF) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18 | 11-4 | 6-9 | + - |
|
Booker was held out of the last game due to a sprained right ankle but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday. |
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| Myles Turner (C) | Prob Mon | Ankle - 15 / 03 / 18 | 14-7 | 7-14 | + - |
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Turner missed the last game with a left high-ankle sprain but is likely to play against the Lakers on Monday. |
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| TJ Leaf (PF) | Prob Fri | Calf - 07 / 02 / 18 | 23-11 | 10-24 | + - |
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Leaf has missed the past three games with left calf soreness but is expected to be available against the Hawks on Friday. |
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| Darren Collison (PG) | Prob Fri | Knee - 05 / 02 / 18 | 24-11 | 10-25 | + - |
|
Collison is recovering from arthroscopic left knee surgery but is expected to return Friday against the Hawks. |
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| Lance Stephenson (SG) | Prob Wed | Thigh - 30 / 01 / 18 | 25-13 | 12-26 | + - |
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Stephenson is dealing with a sore right thigh but is likely to play against the Grizzlies on Wednesday. |
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| Domantas Sabonis (C) | Prob Sun | Shoulder - 14 / 01 / 18 | 30-17 | 14-32-1 | + - |
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Sabonis is expected to play against the Suns on Sunday despite a sore left shoulder. |
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| Victor Oladipo (SG) | Prob Sat | Knee - 27 / 12 / 17 | 32-23 | 17-37-1 | + - |
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Oladipo has missed the last four games with a sore right knee but is expected to return against the Bulls on Saturday. |
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Cavaliers vs. Pacers Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 21 Apr 11:19am CLE -1 -110 O +205.5 -110 Closing 23 Apr 1:39am CLE -2 -115 O +206.5 -120 -
Injuries
JR Smith (SG)
Ques Mon Illness - 06 / 05 / 18George Hill (PG)
Prob Tues Back - 01 / 05 / 18Rodney Hood (SG)
Prob Wed Personal - 18 / 04 / 18Kyle Korver (SG)
Prob Wed Illness - 16 / 04 / 18Tristan Thompson (C)
Prob Sun Personal - 13 / 04 / 18Jose Calderon (PG)
Prob Mon Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18Jeff Green (SF)
Prob Tues Illness - 23 / 03 / 18Larry Nance Jr. (PF)
Ques Fri Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18Cedi Osman (SF)
Prob Wed Hip - 10 / 03 / 18LeBron James (SF)
Prob Tues Leg - 12 / 02 / 18Joe Young (PG)
Ques Fri Illness - 19 / 04 / 18Bojan Bogdanovic (SF)
Out Tues Rest - 10 / 04 / 18Thaddeus Young (PF)
Out Tues Rest - 10 / 04 / 18Trevor Booker (PF)
Prob Sun Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18Myles Turner (C)
Prob Mon Ankle - 15 / 03 / 18TJ Leaf (PF)
Prob Fri Calf - 07 / 02 / 18Darren Collison (PG)
Prob Fri Knee - 05 / 02 / 18Lance Stephenson (SG)
Prob Wed Thigh - 30 / 01 / 18Domantas Sabonis (C)
Prob Sun Shoulder - 14 / 01 / 18Victor Oladipo (SG)
Prob Sat Knee - 27 / 12 / 17Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes JR Smith (SG) Ques Mon Illness - 06 / 05 / 18 7-6 6-7 + - Smith is ailing from an illness and it is unknown if he will play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors.
George Hill (PG) Prob Tues Back - 01 / 05 / 18 8-7 8-7 + - Hill is nursing back soreness but is expected to suit up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors.
Rodney Hood (SG) Prob Wed Personal - 18 / 04 / 18 9-12 9-12 + - Hood is likely to suit up against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a personal matter.
Kyle Korver (SG) Prob Wed Illness - 16 / 04 / 18 9-12 9-12 + - Korver is dealing with an illness but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Tristan Thompson (C) Prob Sun Personal - 13 / 04 / 18 9-13 9-13 + - Thompson is away from the team due to the birth of his child but is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jose Calderon (PG) Prob Mon Hamstring - 05 / 04 / 18 12-14 12-14 + - Calderon has sat out the last two games due to a sore left hamstring but is expected to be available for Monday's contest against the Knicks.
Jeff Green (SF) Prob Tues Illness - 23 / 03 / 18 18-15 14-19 + - Green sat out the last game with whooping cough but is likely to play Tuesday against the Heat.
Larry Nance Jr. (PF) Ques Fri Hamstring - 14 / 03 / 18 20-18 18-20 + - Nance Jr. has been held out of the previous four games with tightness in his right hamstring and it is unclear if he will return for Friday's matchup against the Suns.
Cedi Osman (SF) Prob Wed Hip - 10 / 03 / 18 21-19 18-22 + - Osman has been sidelined with a left hip strain but is likely to return against the Hornets on Wednesday.
LeBron James (SF) Prob Tues Leg - 12 / 02 / 18 25-24 22-27 + - James suffered a leg injury in the previous game but is expected to play Tuesday against the Thunder.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Joe Young (PG) Ques Fri Illness - 19 / 04 / 18 4-1 1-4 + - Young has missed the last two games due to a sinus infection and it is uncertain if he will play against the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Bojan Bogdanovic (SF) Out Tues Rest - 10 / 04 / 18 6-2 2-6 + - Bogdanovic will sit out Tuesday's game against the Hornets so that he can receive a day's rest.
Thaddeus Young (PF) Out Tues Rest - 10 / 04 / 18 6-2 2-6 + - Young will not suit up against the Hornets on Tuesday as he will be given the day off to rest.
Trevor Booker (PF) Prob Sun Ankle - 28 / 03 / 18 11-4 6-9 + - Booker was held out of the last game due to a sprained right ankle but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday.
Myles Turner (C) Prob Mon Ankle - 15 / 03 / 18 14-7 7-14 + - Turner missed the last game with a left high-ankle sprain but is likely to play against the Lakers on Monday.
TJ Leaf (PF) Prob Fri Calf - 07 / 02 / 18 23-11 10-24 + - Leaf has missed the past three games with left calf soreness but is expected to be available against the Hawks on Friday.
Darren Collison (PG) Prob Fri Knee - 05 / 02 / 18 24-11 10-25 + - Collison is recovering from arthroscopic left knee surgery but is expected to return Friday against the Hawks.
Lance Stephenson (SG) Prob Wed Thigh - 30 / 01 / 18 25-13 12-26 + - Stephenson is dealing with a sore right thigh but is likely to play against the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
Domantas Sabonis (C) Prob Sun Shoulder - 14 / 01 / 18 30-17 14-32-1 + - Sabonis is expected to play against the Suns on Sunday despite a sore left shoulder.
Victor Oladipo (SG) Prob Sat Knee - 27 / 12 / 17 32-23 17-37-1 + - Oladipo has missed the last four games with a sore right knee but is expected to return against the Bulls on Saturday.