Cavs vs. Pacers Game 3 Preview: Start Time, TV, Line, and Injury Report

It’s do or die here for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Game 3 is our Finals Game 7. There is no sugarcoating here. This is do or die for the historic season for the Cleveland Cavaliers. If they lose here, it will be a meager and bleak outlook for this series. How will the Cavaliers respond to the gut punch delivered to them via Tyrese Haliburton?

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (0-2) vs. Indiana Pacers (2-0)

Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN

When: 7:30 pm EST

TV: ESPN

Line: Cavaliers -2.5

Expected Cavs starting lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Max Strus, Dean Wade, Jarrett Allen

Cavs injury report: Darius Garland – QUESTIONABLE (sprained toe), Evan Mobley – QUESTIONABLE (ankle sprain), De’Andre Hunter – QUESTIONABLE (thumb strain)

Expected Pacers starting lineup: Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner

Pacers injury report: Isaiah Jackson – OUT (torn achilles)

What to watch for

Injury Reports once again being a narrative for the postseason

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The Cavaliers could have accomplished so much more if [insert player name] were healthy for the series. Oh, wait, you could have applied this to last postseason with Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and even Donovan Mitchell.

This year’s edition is playing an eerily similar tune. While it was just Garland in Round 1, in the opening game against the Pacers, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter joined him in their new roles as spectators. Shortly after Game 2’s devastating loss, it was also revealed that Mitchell has been dealing with a calf strain as well. When it rains, it pours, I guess.

Looking towards Game 3, there are still a lot of question marks about how the roster will look by tip-off. In what is a dire must-win game for the Cavaliers, you would expect that at least one of the injured trio would be ready to go to help them secure the win.

Will the real Ty Jerome please stand up?

If Jerome is an avid Fear the Sword reader, this is for his eyes only:

Ty Jeremy Jerome, if I can refer to you by your full legal name, the Cavaliers need you. Some imposter has been suiting up for you in Games 1 and 2 of the Indiana Pacers series. I know this can’t be the real you. I won’t rule out abductions or other crimes of the sort. I have sent out missing persons reports, and your face is on milk cartons in the greater Cleveland area. We will find you so your imposter can be brought to justice.

In all seriousness, Jerome has looked like the polar opposite of the man who, time and time again, was one of the most impactful role players of the regular season. He has looked uncomfortable, reckless, and out of tune with the rest of the team. It isn’t outlandish to say that Jerome was the sole disappointment of the skeleton crew that Cleveland should’ve won with in Game 2.

If Jerome shows up in Game 3 like he did all season and like he did in the first round, the Cavs likely win this one. Even if they’re banged up.

He’s that important to this team right now.