Post-Game Grades: Pacers Get Back to Defensive Ways to Beat Cavs
By Jared Wade
The Good: After a rough start, the Indiana Pacers clamped down on defense. They held the Cleveland Cavaliers to just 58 points over the final three quarters on 22-for-68 (32.4%) shooting. It probably would have been even stingier had so many calls not gone Cleveland’s way.
This was the Cavs shot chart over the final 36 minutes.
The Bad: The first quarter was rough, and Indiana missed 10 free throws on the night.
MVP: You want to say George Hill because of the triple double, but Rodney Stuckey’s 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists felt just as big.
LVP: Kevin Love shot 6-for-19 in this one, including 1-for-7 from behind the arc. He was not good.
X Factor: The Pacers only committed just 8 turnovers in this ball game and on the strength of this were able to keep the Cavaliers from scoring nary a single fast-break point.
David West, PF 34 MIN | 6-12 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 12 PTS | +6 +/-Had two big plays late with a save and a jumper. Used his physicality all night to make the Cavs uncomfortable. |
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