Cavaliers-Pacers Series Odds & Predictions: Bet On Cleveland To Win East?

Written By Eli Hershkovich | Last Updated at May 1, 2025

The top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers square off against the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs starting Sunday, May 4. Which team will advance to the Eastern Conference finals? Cleveland is priced at -480 to win the series and is a spread favorite in Game 1. For those who believe Donovan Mitchell and Co. are the best team in the East, here's an alternative way to bet on Cavaliers vs. Pacers odds.

NBA playoffs Bonus bets are available now

Sift through the best sportsbook promos and bonus codes from the best sports betting sites below!

Rank

Sportsbook

Bonus

Features

Play

Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win

BetMGM Review

Play Now

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US) Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA) 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Rewards are non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire in 7 days. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Bet $5 & Get $200 in bonus bets

Bet365 Review

Play Now

Minimum $10 deposit required. Minimum odds -500 of greater. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. T&CS, time limits and exclusions apply. This Referral Code is used for marketing/tracking purposes only. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ (18+ KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA (select parishes)/MD/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA.

Bet $1, Double your Winnings on your Next 20 Wagers. Up to $25 Max Bet Per Boost

Caesars Review

Play Now

21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)

Bet $5 & Get $150 in Bonus Bets If You Win

Hard Rock Bet Review

Play Now

The promotion is available for all new players on Hard Rock Bet. An initial deposit is required, and the players first cash bet must be at least $5 to qualify. Additionally, the qualifying wager must win to receive the $150 in Bonus Bets. To be eligible, the Player must be at least 21 years old, physically located in a Eligible Jurisdiction: AZ, IL, IN, NJ, OH, TN, or VA, and not on any exclusionary lists in any Eligible Jurisdiction. Excluded patrons are prohibited from participating in Promotions. To be eligible all personal and contact data associated to your account must be verifiable. | T&C apply | Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER

Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins!

FanDuel Review

Play Now

Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG Help . Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit Helpline and Chat - CONNECTICUT COUNCIL (CT). Hope is here. Home or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit Home (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets which expire 7 days after receipt. See terms at FanDuel Sportsbook

New Customers: Bet $5+ Get $300 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins + 3 Months of League Pass On Us!

DraftKings Review

Play Now

T&Cs apply, 21+

Bet $50, Get $250 in FanCash

Fanatics Review

Play Now

New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TV, VA, VT, WV, WY. Must opt-in and wager $10+ cash on any market with odds of -500 or longer to receive $50 in FanCash each day for your first 5 days (issued when qualifying wager settles). Your 5 days begin the day you establish your account. See full Promo Terms and FanCash terms in the Fanatics Sportsbook app.

cavaliers vs. pacers series odds before game 1

Eastern Conference futures odds

[metabet_core_side_odds_tile query="bkp/nba_winner_east" size="100%x300" site_id="thelines"]

Are Cavaliers Undervalued?

Last offseason, in search of a new-look offensive scheme, Cleveland replaced J.B. Bickerstaff with Kenny Atkinson as head coach. Atkinson stirred up more of a motion-based attack, and the Cavs accumulated 121 points per 100 possessions in the regular season, helping deliver the NBA's best offensive efficiency by a sizeable margin.

Bettors already witnessed what a defense driven by Evan Mobley, this year's Defensive Player of the Year, and Jarrett Allen could supply. They continued their ascent by showcasing the league's eighth-rated unit. The aftermath was 64 regular-season wins, a No. 1 seed, and a net rating second only in the East to the defending champion Boston Celtics.

Still, there's enough market skepticism around Cleveland to make its odds of winning the East a worthwhile bet. For context, I believe their price should be closer to +125, equivalent to a 44.4% implied probability, and it's available at (36.4%).

This strategy should also yield a greater profit than a moneyline (ML) rollover approach, which involves wagering on a team’s odds and using the winnings to bet on them again in the subsequent series. While there’s no guarantee of that notion, we can use a parlay calculator to determine that the Cavaliers' series price in the semifinals, paired with the estimated odds for Cavs vs. Celtics, wouldn't provide as much value.

A riskier angle would gear toward betting on Mitchell, Cleveland's star guard, to win the MVP of the 2025 Eastern Conference finals. Granted, bettors must have enough confidence that Cleveland will upend Indiana to employ either of these tactics.

Eastern Conference Finals: MVP Odds

Cavaliers vs. Pacers odds: Series Predictions

During the postseason, Indiana's transition defense grades in the 81st percentile on a points-per-possession (PPP) basis, stemming from its first-round win over Milwaukee. But considering the Bucks only tallied two full games with Damian Lillard (torn Achilles), I'm unwilling to give the Pacers (below average in the regular season) an entire bouquet of flowers.

Additionally, even if Cavs point guard Darius Garland (toe) isn't healthy come Sunday, they have enough depth to wreak havoc with their elite half-court offense, which is where Rick Carlisle's unit is most suspect.

I'll concede that the Cavaliers benefited from facing the pitiful Heat. Nevertheless, if you remove their offensive onslaught in the opening series, their half-court efficiency settles in the exact same percentile (97th). Conversely, Indiana's shooting splits should undergo some regression while battling a vastly superior defense.

Below, you can click on any of the Game 1 odds for Cavaliers vs. Pacers to place a bet.