Pacers withstand Cavs rally to win their summer league opener

The Indiana Pacers built a 21-point third-quarter lead and held off a furious late rally by the Cleveland Cavaliers to secure a 99-93 victory in a summer league game Friday at the Pavilion in Las Vegas.

Indiana, in its summer league opener, showcased a balanced attack, with five players scoring in double figures. Rienk Mast posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Taevion Kinsey came off the bench to score 16 points, shooting 4-for-6 from 3-point range. Jalen Slawson had a standout all-around performance for the Pacers, contributing 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and five blocks. Taelon Peter added 13 points, and Keion Brooks Jr. scored 11.

The Cavaliers' Nae'Qwan Tomlin and rookie Meleek Thomas co-led all scorers with 20 points apiece. Tomlin also added six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Thomas, the No. 34 pick in the 2026 draft, chipped in five rebounds and three assists. Malaki Branham scored 15 points, and Riley Minix scored 10.

After trailing 75-56 entering the fourth quarter, Cleveland mounted a comeback. The Cavaliers erased most of the deficit in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to one point on a layup from Tomlin with 2:41 remaining. After Mast converted a three-point play for Indiana, Peter hit a 3-pointer with 52 seconds left to extend the Pacers' lead.

Indiana's second-round pick, Braden Smith (No. 38), struggled from the field, shooting 1-for-8, but contributed five points, eight rebounds and four assists in the win.

Up next: Indiana takes on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Pavilion in Las Vegas on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET. Cleveland will face the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Sunday at 4 p.m. 

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