Donovan Mitchell stays hot as the Cleveland Cavaliers hold off the Indiana Pacers

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers continue homecourt defense

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued to defend their territory by fending off the Indiana Pacers in a 118-112 dogfight at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. With another win at home, the Cavs continue to hold the fort in third place with a 19-11 record.

Three-time NBA All-Star star Donovan Mitchell stay scorching hot to lead all scorers with 41 points for Cleveland, who trailed by as much as 13 points early in the fourth period before grinding their way back into another victory.

It wasn’t until past midway through the final quarter that the home team finally wrestled back the lead and kicked the visitors out into the cold for the Cavs’ 13th win in their building.

Mitchell’s fellow backcourt star Darius Garland finished with 20 points and 10 assists, as Evan Mobley chipped in with 16 markers, while Caris LeVert and Cedi Osman–who had been benched the previous game–combined for 26 off the bench.

On the other hand, highly-touted Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin tallied 22 points as rising star guard Tyrese Haliburton had a double-double of 17 points and 14 dimes for Indiana.

The Cavs look to extend their win streak in homestand

This marks the Cavaliers’ 13th win against two losses in the routinely sellout Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, which is a stark contrast to their pedestrian 6-9 record away from home.

Consistently protecting the home court is a good step towards success, but looking like a different team on the road is not the mark of a legitimate playoff contender, and if the Cavs are dead-set on building a winning culture and seriously contending for the postseason, they’ll have to find a solution.

Fortunately, there will be five more games in the building through the upcoming festive season, although they will have no time to sit around as this stretch will continue to feature legitimate playoff-contending opponents.

There will be a less than 24-hour turnaround before the Dallas Mavericks check into the building for the second of a six-game holiday homestand, and the Cleveland Cavaliers should look to replicate the comfortable win they had over them in Texas just two days ago.