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Pacers Get By Cavs

Domantas Sabonis had 21 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists as the Indiana Pacers strengthened their hold on a play-in tournament spot with a 111-102 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.

 

Kelan Martin scored a career-high 25 points and Caris LeVert had 20 points and 10 assists for the Pacers, who moved one-half game ahead of Washington into ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The Wizards were beaten 125-124 in Atlanta.

 

Indiana reduced its magic number for clinching a play-in berth to two with four games remaining. Chicago is 11th -- one spot outside of the play-in tourney -- and the Pacers are now within a game of eighth-place Charlotte.

 

Collin Sexton scored 25 points for the Cavaliers in their 11th straight loss, matching the eighth-longest skid in team history. Rookie Isaac Okoro had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Dean Wade had 19 points and 12 rebounds in their first career double-doubles.

 

A Sabonis layup put Indiana in front for good at 93-91 with 6:09 left, beginning a 9-1 run that gave it an eight-point lead. The Cavaliers, who were ahead by double-digits in the first half, never got closer than five in the final four minutes.

 

Justin Holiday scored 11 points and T.J. McConnell had 10 points and seven assists as Indiana's bench outscored Cleveland's 47-17. Sabonis added four blocked shots and two steals, falling one assist shy of his ninth triple-double of the season.

 

Sabonis notched his 45th double-double of the season, five shy of his franchise record set in 2019-2020.

 

The Pacers host Philadelphia on Tuesday. Indiana begins a three-game homestand that also includes the Bucks and Lakers.

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