The Cleveland Cavaliers return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals carrying the weight of expectations and the confidence of a dominant 64-win regular season. As the top seed in the East, Cleveland has built its success on one of the league’s most consistent defensive identities, anchored by the elite interior presence of Jarrett Allen and the versatile shot-altering ability of Evan Mobley. Together, they have made scoring in the paint an uphill battle for opponents, often forcing teams to settle for contested perimeter shots. Offensively, the Cavaliers are paced by All-Star Donovan Mitchell, whose clutch shot-making and leadership continue to be the heartbeat of the franchise. He’s been a reliable scoring engine all season, capable of creating off the dribble, attacking closeouts, and delivering under pressure. Darius Garland complements Mitchell with his ability to initiate offense, stretch defenses with his shooting, and find teammates in advantageous spots. That dynamic backcourt allows Cleveland to control the tempo, especially in half-court settings, which is exactly where they want to keep this series against Indiana’s fast-paced attack. Caris LeVert has embraced his role off the bench, offering two-way play and capable scoring in spurts, while Isaac Okoro has quietly become an invaluable perimeter defender who could draw the Haliburton assignment for stretches.

Cleveland’s challenge lies in resisting Indiana’s push to speed up the game. The Pacers will look to force turnovers, run in transition, and attack before Cleveland’s defense can set up—something the Cavs must prepare for by maintaining careful ball security and rebounding at a high level. One of Cleveland’s underappreciated strengths has been their ability to keep games low-scoring and physical, an area where they should have a clear advantage in this series. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has emphasized structure and defensive discipline, and his team has responded by becoming one of the NBA’s most efficient units on both ends of the floor. That poise will be essential as the Cavaliers look to establish themselves early in Game 1, leveraging their home-court advantage where they’ve been particularly effective. The Cavaliers are 60% ATS at home this season, a reflection of how well they feed off the energy of the Cleveland crowd and execute their game plan in familiar surroundings. Containing Haliburton and disrupting Indiana’s ball movement will be priorities, but the Cavs also know they have the weapons to out-execute the Pacers late in games where possessions tighten and matchups matter more. If Cleveland can establish dominance in the paint, limit turnovers, and grind the pace to a crawl, they’ll be in firm control of the series opener. With the pressure of seeding and expectations squarely on their shoulders, the Cavaliers have every reason to come out with urgency and physicality as they look to defend their home court and take the first step toward a deep playoff run.