Pacers snap Cavaliers' 12-game win streak

The Indiana Pacers erased a 15-point deficit Sunday to defeat the Cavaliers 108-93, snapping Cleveland's 12-game win streak.

Andrew Nembhard led all Pacers scorers with 19 points to go along with four assists and two steals. Indiana was without Tyrese Haliburton for the second half after he exited with hamstring tightness.

"We were connected (on defense)," Nembhard said, according to ESPN. "We didn't fool around, even when we made mistakes, we helped out each other, and just made the next play."

Indiana went into the break down 13, but didn't stop fighting. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was impressed by his team's effort in the closing frames.

"I just thought our connectivity in the second half was as good as it's been all year," said Carlisle, according to team writer Scott Agness.

Cleveland was held to just 40 second-half points and was outscored 37-18 in the third quarter. The Cavs also shot just 39.8% from the field and 26.8% from three. This was the first time this season the Cavaliers were held under 100 points.

"What disappointed me was, in the first half we were phenomenal defensively, and in the second half we just fell off," said Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, according to The Athletic's Joe Vardon. "We couldn't sustain our defense. The shots — we live with days like that, nights like that, but just disappointed (with) our defensive mindset in that third quarter and really the whole second half."

The Pacers had six players score in double figures, including Pascal Siakam with 18 points.

Darius Garland contributed a game-high 20 points and seven assists for the Cavaliers.

"It happens, 82 games in a season is super long," Garland said, according to Vardon. "Some days you have one of these games. I mean, we went an entire month without a loss, we were due for one."

This was the Cavaliers' first loss since a 122-113 defeat to the Miami Heat on Dec. 8. It was also just the fifth Cleveland loss and the second at home this season.

The Pacers are now winners of six in a row and are 22-18. The Cavaliers remain first in the NBA at 33-5.

The Cavaliers and Pacers will have a rematch Tuesday in Indiana.