The NBA regular season presents a battle of the wounded on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, as the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to face the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The 7:00 p.m. ET tip-off will see two teams grappling with significant absences, turning this contest into a test of depth and resilience rather than a showcase of star power.
Injury Woes Dominate Pre-Game Narrative
The storyline for this Eastern Conference matchup is overwhelmingly defined by who will not be on the court. The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without their offensive engine, Donovan Mitchell, who is sitting out for rest management after a heavy recent workload. The frontcourt faces uncertainty as well, with centre Jarrett Allen listed as questionable due to an illness and forward Dean Wade also questionable with a left knee contusion.
Further depleting the Cavaliers' rotation, Max Strus remains out following left foot surgery and Larry Nance Jr. is sidelined with a right calf strain. Players like Luke Travers and Chris Livingston are unavailable due to G League assignments. This places immense responsibility on the shoulders of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley to steer Cleveland's offense and defense.
Pacers Navigating a Season of Adversity
The situation is even more dire for the home team. The Indiana Pacers continue to manage one of the league's most extensive injury lists. They have lost their franchise cornerstone, Tyrese Haliburton, for the entire season, stripping the team of its primary playmaker and scorer. The absences pile up with Bennedict Mathurin out with a right thumb sprain, Isaiah Jackson sidelined by a concussion, and Obi Toppin still recovering from a right foot stress fracture.
This leaves veteran forward Pascal Siakam as the unequivocal focal point of Indiana's offense. The Pacers will require role players to step into significantly enlarged responsibilities to generate scoring and compete.
Playoff Push Meets Rebuilding Struggle
The context of the teams' seasons adds another layer to this encounter. The Cleveland Cavaliers enter with a 20-17 record, holding the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Despite an uneven season marred by injuries and a recent loss to a short-handed Detroit Pistons, they have secured victories in four of their last six outings. Their goal is clear: to solidify their postseason positioning.
In stark contrast, the Indiana Pacers are languishing at 6-30, firmly at the bottom of the East. They are burdened by a demoralizing 12-game losing streak. Injuries have completely derailed their campaign, leaving them with limited lineup flexibility and minimal room for error each night. Their objective is simply to find a way to be competitive.
Broadcast Information: Fans can catch the game locally on FanDuel Sports Network Indiana and FanDuel Sports Network Ohio. Streaming options include Fubo and other services carrying regional FanDuel feeds. Radio listeners in Indiana can tune into 93.5 FM or 107.5 FM The Fan, while Cleveland-area audiences can follow on 100.7 FM or 1100 AM/106.9 FM.
What to Watch: The Cavaliers are road favorites by approximately five points, with the projected total points scored set near 236.5. Key battles to watch include Darius Garland's orchestration of the Cavs' offense, the pivotal frontcourt matchup featuring Pascal Siakam against Evan Mobley and (if available) Jarrett Allen, and Indiana's ability to manufacture points without its top creators. These factors will likely decide whether the Pacers can keep the game close or if the Cavaliers' remaining firepower proves too much.
