With the top seed already secured, the Cleveland Cavaliers took it easy on Thursday, giving their stars a breather. The Indiana Pacers, meanwhile, had no plans of coasting. The game may have meant little on paper, but things got heated—fast. Tristan Thompson logged some rare minutes, and that’s when the chaos kicked in.

The Cavs pulled off an unexpected push and somehow entered the fourth with an 82-81 edge—but minus their head coach. Late in the third, Obi Toppin bulldozed through Thompson on a drive, practically tossing him sideways. Somehow, no whistle. Thompson, off-balance and falling, threw up a wild hook shot—and it actually went in. But that didn’t calm the storm.

Cavs’ boss? He completely lost it. Right after the no-call, he unloaded on the refs with a full-on verbal barrage. One tech came quick. But Atkinson wasn’t done. He kept going, pushing right up to the line—then crossing it with zero hesitation. The officials didn’t blink before slapping him with a second technical. Just like that, he was tossed before the fourth even started.

Now, here’s the thing: this wasn’t some high-stakes playoff clash. The game meant nothing for the standings. And yet, Atkinson went all in. He got ejected for standing up for Thompson in a “meaningless” matchup. But that kind of stuff sticks. When a coach fights for the 15th man like he’s your franchise star, it sends a message. Every player, from the top of the rotation to the end of the bench, saw that.

Atkinson’s second career ejection—and first since 2018—wasn’t some heat-of-the-moment fluke. The man’s been all business since landing in Cleveland. From day one, he set the tone. No shortcuts. No coasting. Just showing up and playing the right way, every single night. Even after wins, he’ll pick apart the performance like it’s Game 7. That’s just who he is. And when he blew up over that missed call?

It wasn’t because the game meant anything in the standings. It didn’t. But to him, everything matters. Every guy on the roster deserves to be backed up, and Atkinson made sure of it—even if it cost him the rest of the night. With Atkinson out, assistant coach Johnnie Bryant took over down the stretch. And man, what followed was pure grit.

Tristan Thompson and others weren’t enough for the Pacers

The Cavs rolled into Indiana seriously shorthanded—four starters out—and still nearly stole one. They were hanging by a thread by the fourth quarter, down to a lineup with Tristan Thompson anchoring the paint like it was 2016 again. And get this—they were one shot away from forcing OT.

Early on, it looked like the Pacers might blow it open. But Ty Jerome stepped up with seven first-quarter points that kept Cleveland in the mix. The offense found its groove in the second, owning the paint and piling up second-chance buckets. That led to a 33-point quarter and a surprising four-point halftime lead.

Momentum shifted late in the third, but then—plot twist—Kenny Atkinson got tossed. And weirdly enough, it gave Cleveland life. They answered with a quick 4-0 spurt and headed into the fourth up by one.

From there, the Cavs leaned into their rest-over-results strategy. Jerome didn’t touch the floor again, and De’Andre Hunter only logged a few fourth-quarter minutes. Luckily, Sam Merrill caught fire and hit four threes to keep things tight.

In crunch time, the Cavs rolled with Craig Porter Jr., Isaac Okoro, Jaylon Green, Javonte Tyson, and Thompson. That squad gave it all they had, but Tyson’s mid-range jumper at the buzzer missed.

Jerome finished with 24, Hunter had 23 and 11, and Merrill dropped 15 on five triples. Sure, the 66-win mark is off the table, but that was a gutsy effort.