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. |  |
Solomon Hill, SF 18 MIN | 2-3 FG | 4-4 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 8 PTS | -4 +/-Was a bit anonymous.
Roy Hibbert, C 21 MIN | 2-7 FG | 4-4 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTS | -5 +/-Got out-played badly by Mozgov.
George Hill, PG 34 MIN | 4-15 FG | 7-8 FT | 10 REB | 12 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 15 PTS | +8 +/-Proving almost every game why he has made all the difference in turning around this season. He got the triple double and made a late-game, hustle steal that put the final nail into Cleveland’s coffin.
C.J. Miles, SG 33 MIN | 4-7 FG | 3-4 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 13 PTS | +9 +/-Stays hittin’ big shots.
Luis Scola, PF 23 MIN | 4-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 8 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 8 PTS | -1 +/-Not all that efficient but kept Cleveland off guard by being his funky-move self.
Damjan Rudez, SF 12 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PTS | -4 +/-Non-factor mostly but nothing too bad either.
Ian Mahinmi, C 18 MIN | 3-6 FG | 1-9 FT | 9 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 7 PTS | +14 +/-Played a really good game on both ends. A few issues when he found himself with the ball outside the paint, but created some points and played strong defense.
Rodney Stuckey, PG 32 MIN | 8-16 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 19 PTS | +11 +/-GODNEY.
C.J. Watson, PG 16 MIN | 0-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +1 +/-Zero points isn’t a good look in 16 minutes.
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