Pacers rally from 23-point deficit in 4th quarter to defeat Cavaliers 126-118 in double overtime

CLEVELAND (AP) — Quenton Jackson scored 21 points, RayJ Dennis had seven points in the second overtime and the Indiana Pacers rallied for a 126-118 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday after trailing by 23 with 7:35 remaining in regulation.

Tony Bradley added 14 points. His hook shot with 4:41 remaining in double overtime put Indiana up by two and gave it the lead for the first time since there was 4:21 left in the first quarter.

The Pacers (50-32), who'll be the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference in the playoffs, reached 50 wins for the first time since the 2013-14 season. Indiana reached the milestone even though two starters and four regular rotation players didn't play.

Jaylon Tyson scored a career-high 31 points for Cleveland (64-18), which ended the regular season with three straight losses after clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference. .

Cleveland sat out nine of its regular rotation players, including four starters. Jarrett Allen was the only Cavaliers starter to see playing time, marking the first time in his eight-year career he played in all 82 games.

The Cavaliers had a 27-point advantage during the third quarter and were up 96-73 until Indiana rallied with a 32-9 run to even it at 105 with 10.5 seconds remaining.

Pacers: Took three of four from the Cavaliers in the regular-season series. Both teams could meet again in the second round of the playoffs.

Cavaliers: Emoni Bates scored 25 and Nae’Qwan Tomlin had 24 points and 12 rebounds in his fifth NBA game and first career start.

After Bradley's bucket, Dennis scored Indiana's next seven points, including a 3-pointer to make it 118-111.

Allen missed his only shot, but became the third player in NBA history to average at least 13 points and shoot at least 70% from the field. Allen, who averaged 13.5 points and shot 70.6%.

Indiana will have home court in its first-round series against Milwaukee. Cleveland won't know its first-round opponent until Friday night when the play-in tournament concludes.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) is fouled by Cleveland Cavaliers guard Javonte Green (8) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Javonte Green (8) defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Chuma Okeke, right, blocks a shot by Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) dunks next to Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr. (9) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) goes to the basket past Cleveland Cavaliers forward Jaylon Tyson, right, in the first, half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant, center, and Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) fight for control of the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Jaylon Tyson (24) goes up for a dunk against Indiana Pacers forward Jarace Walker (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Jaylon Tyson, left, talks with Donovan Mitchell, center, and Evan Mobley, right, who did not dress for the game, in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Julian Champagnie had a career-high 36 points and the San Antonio Spurs survived an injury scare to Victor Wembanyama, rallying to beat the New York Knicks 134-132 on Wednesday night in a rematch of the NBA Cup final.

Wembanyama finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes before limping off the court with an apparent leg injury with under 11 minutes remaining. He returned to the bench in warmups in the final minutes.

New York's Jalen Brunson had 29 points, including a 3-pointer at the close of regulation after stripping Keldon Johnson of possession as he celebrated with San Antonio's bench. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordan Clarkson added 20 points apiece for the Knicks, who had a three-game winning streak halted.

Wembanyama hobbled off the court unassisted with 10:32 remaining, heading to the locker room after injuring his left leg. He had soared to gather an offensive rebound over Towns and lost possession when he landed. Replays showed there was no contact, but Wembanyama’s left foot slid forward and his knee appeared to hyperextend.

Wembanyama returned to San Antonio's bench with 1:22 remaining, walking calmly and without a limp. It was a good time for the 7-foot-4 center to return. Wembanyama cheered from the sidelines as the Spurs held on to beat the Knicks to snap a two-game skid.

Champagnie scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, going 4 for 5 on 3-pointers, as San Antonio erased a double-digit deficit.

New York outscored San Antonio 28-27 in the second quarter, but it would have been much worse without Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 center had 16 points in the second period.

Wembanyama brought the sell-out crowd to its feet with a one-handed slam off an alley-oop pass from Castle that cut New York's lead to 54-50. The Knicks responded with a 17-2 run following a timeout and Wembanyama's exit, including 14 straight points to cap the surge.

Wembanyama returned to help pare the deficit to 73-63.

Champagnie hit back-to-back 3-pointers, capping a 16-2 run that tied the game at 86 midway through the third.

Wembanyama made his 300th career 3-pointer, becoming the fastest to do so among 7-footers and accomplishing the feat in 138 games. That beat the previous mark of 141 games by Utah’s Lauri Markkanen.

Knicks: Host Sacramento on Thursday.

Spurs: At Indiana on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox, right, tangles with New York Knicks players Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

New York Knicks guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (9) passes to Knicks center Ariel Hukporti as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) blocks a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, right, is fouled as he drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) and Spurs center Victor Wembanyama during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)