Cavaliers end three-game losing streak with 135-119 victory over Pacers

INDIANAPOLIS — The Cavaliers ended their losing ways Monday night, and Donovan Mitchell was a major reason why. Mitchell scored 43 points to lead Cleveland to a 135-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers that ended a three-game losing streak and give the Cavs only their third win in the last seven games. Mitchell, who made 16 of 27 shots from the field, also had nine rebounds and six assists. Jaylon Tyson added 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting and a team-high 11 rebounds. Evan Mobley and DeAndre Hunter each scored 13 for the Cavs. "Honestly, this is what we should be doing. I thought think it's anything to celebrate," Mitchell said of the emphatic victory over the reigning Eastern Conference champions. "This is no disrespect to the Indiana Pacers. Obviously, they have (an injured) Tyrese Haliburton out, they're a different team and what not and they play hard, but we should be coming out and doing this all the time. That's what's disappointing about the last three games. "It's great that we won, but we just have to do it again. For us, it's just continue to play at this level. We want to be the type of team that's able to do this every night and not fluctuate." Pascal Siakam had 26 points for Indiana, and Andrew Nembhard scored 21. Garrison Mathews, who signed a second 10-day contract Monday with the Pacers, added 15 points — hitting all three of his attempts from 3-point range. Jay Huff also scored 15. The Cavaliers shot 51 percent from the field while the Pacers shot 49 percent. Cleveland had a 48-36 rebounding edge. Indiana had 14 turnovers, six more than Cleveland. Cleveland led by 21 twice, the last time at 53-32 before settling for a 66-54 halftime lead. The Pacers' only lead was 2-0. Hunter put the Cavaliers ahead for good at 5-2 with a 3-pointer. The teams shot nearly the same in the opening half as the Pacers were at 50 percent and the Cavaliers at 49 percent. The difference was Cleveland had a 27-15 rebounding advantage and committed just three turnovers while the Pacers had eight. The Pacers trailed 99-90 after three quarters. The Cavaliers scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and retained a comfortable margin the rest of the game. The Cavaliers were without Darius Garland, who sat out of the second of back-to-back games to manage his left toe injury. Lonzo Ball missed the game due to an illness. Up nextCavaliers: Host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. Pacers: Host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.