Post-Game Grades: Pacers Upset Cavs With Expert Play in Crunchtime
By Jared Wade
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The Good: Second-half defense, and especially the third quarter. The Cleveland Cavaliers shot just 39.1% (18-for-46) over the final 24 minutes while the Indiana Pacers forced 11 turnovers. There was some letdown in the defense during the fourth quarter, but some of that is due to a few late desperation makes by the Cavs. Plus, it’s hard to maintain the intensity that held the Cavs to 28% shooting in the third. But overall, the effort was spot on and the team’s energy on both ends was superb even in the fourth.
The Bad: Can’t say anything bad about beating a team on a 12-game winning streak and has the world’s best player balling out.
MVP: George Hill. Just like he is every time he plays. Especially because he did this.
LVP: Kevin Love. Milk carton game for the offseason acquisition who finished with 5 points on 8 shots.
X Factor: Luck? The Pacers played well on offense throughout and while they didn’t have an early-game defensive intensity to make Cleveland uncomfortable, the Cavs were simply making everything. Even when they fell down by double digits in the second quarter it felt like the game was roughly even.
 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 99 | Final |
Recap | Box Score103Indiana Pacers
 | David West, PF 29 MIN | 9-15 FG | 2-2 FT | 13 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 20 PTS | +1 +/-Would have been such a shame to waste a throwback effort by West, so it’s a good thing Indiana came back to win this. West had 10 in the first quarter alone and was as active as I’ve seen him in some time on the glass. The 13 boards don’t even show the extra effort he was putting forth extending and pushing for tap backs. |  |
Solomon Hill, SF 36 MIN | 5-8 FG | 1-1 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 11 PTS | -2 +/-Had 9 points in the fourth quarter, and the Pacers probably don’t win this one without him doing so. Did get torched by LeBron early on, but who doesn’t?
Roy Hibbert, C 40 MIN | 5-12 FG | 0-0 FT | 8 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | -4 +/-Strong on D and did the yeoman’s work of playing 40 minutes. No disrespect to Shayne Whittington, who mopped up a few minutes well, but just having Roy on the court those extra minutes certainly helped since Ian Mahinmi and Lavoy Allen are both sidelined.
George Hill, PG 26 MIN | 3-8 FG | 12-15 FT | 3 REB | 7 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 4 TO | 20 PTS | -5 +/-Shot of the year from the future 2015 NBA MVP plus all the other wonderful aggressiveness he brought to the table.
C.J. Miles, SG 32 MIN | 8-16 FG | 6-8 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 26 PTS | +10 +/-Got them buckets.
Shayne Whittington, PF 6 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 2 PTS | 0 +/-Got a layup, didn’t make mistakes.
Luis Scola, PF 22 MIN | 3-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | +11 +/-Did fine. Like him out there with David West.
Damjan Rudez, SF 8 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | -1 +/-Had two quick triples and didn’t get totally embarrassed while guarding LeBron.
Rodney Stuckey, PG 20 MIN | 1-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -1 +/-Not his finest hour.
C.J. Watson, PG 22 MIN | 0-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +11 +/-No points, but had one huge steal and dish for a layup that seemed to inject some energy. He’s a bit uncanny in doing that in big spots.