Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points, while James Harden added 28 points and seven assists, helping the playoff-bound Cleveland Cavaliers overcome a slow start to defeat the visiting Indiana Pacers 117-108 on Sunday.

Thomas Bryant contributed a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Keon Ellis added 13 points for Cleveland (49-29), which did not lead at any point in the first half but rallied in the second to secure its eighth win in the last 10 games. Mitchell also added six rebounds and six assists.

The Cavaliers are on the verge of clinching fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would grant them home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They hold a four-game lead over the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks with four games remaining.

For Indiana (18-60), Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points each. Jalen Slawson set a career-high with 19 points, while Quenton Jackson added 15 points. The Pacers, who dressed only nine players, have the second-worst record in the league. Potter also grabbed 12 rebounds and provided four assists, and Toppin made all 10 of his free-throw attempts while adding eight rebounds.

Cleveland took control early in the fourth quarter, scoring five straight points on a Nae'Qwan Tomlin 3-pointer and a Mitchell runner to pull ahead 101-96 for the final stretch.

The Cavaliers had tied the game on their first possession of the third quarter when Bryant hit a 3-pointer, making it 58-58. Mitchell’s 3-pointer gave Cleveland its first lead at 61-60, though Indiana still held a slim 91-90 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

Indiana led by 12 points early in the second quarter, with Jackson’s free throws giving the Pacers a 47-35 lead. At halftime, the Pacers maintained a 58-55 lead, fueled by 14 points each from Potter and Slawson, countering Harden’s 19 points and Mitchell’s 15.

The Pacers came out strong in the first five minutes, hitting six of eight 3-pointers and building a 20-10 lead, with Slawson scoring nine points and Mitchell pacing the Cavaliers with 11.

Cleveland rested starters Evan Mobley, Sam Merrill, and Jarrett Allen and also remained without forwards Jaylon Tyson (left great toe bruise) and Dean Wade (right ankle sprain). Indiana was missing nine players due to injuries, including All-Star Pascal Siakam (left ankle sprain), Andrew Nembhard (back), Aaron Nesmith (cervical strain), Jarace Walker (lower back), Ben Sheppard (right hip), and T.J. McConnell (hamstrings).

—Field Level Media/Reuters