The Indiana Pacers traveled to Cleveland to take on the defending NBA champion Cavaliers to open the 2017 NBA Playoffs.
Indiana was a big underdog heading into the series, of course. However, with the way Paul George ended the season, it gives the Pacers a puncher’s chance to make this a competitive series.
Here’s how Pacers fans & media reacted to the game on Twitter as it happened:
PREGAME
This is good news. The Pacers need him to be right.
Apparently (according to ESPN) Teague no longer plays Pacers, he still plays for the Hawks. He also got injured playing for the Hawks against the Hawks. How weird.
1st QUARTER
Nice to have roster flexibility, eh?
Love getting away from Thad Young and knocking down a three. Can’t have too much of that. Cavs 16-13.
He’s pretty good, I suppose. Tied at 18 at the first timeout.
A flop by J.R. Smith gets a first foul on PG, then a late whistle gets Tristan Thompson to the line. Dems the breaks.
… and here comes FUN!
Pacers shot the fourth-best percentage in the league, but shot the fourth-least amount of three-pointers.
Pacers having a few problems with their pick and roll defense. The Cavs have a lot to do with that. They’re just really good.
2nd QUARTER
Yeah… he’s pretty good, too. Cavs up 36-32.
It’s not that high, but it feels that way. Cavs getting anything they want, but the Pacers are still in it – somehow – only down six halfway through the quarter.
Thad hasn’t had the best game, but this is a big foul. It hurts the Pacers on both ends. Pacers down 57-50.
He started well, but it hasn’t been the best half for the 21 year old.
That won’t stop you Pacers fans, right? (This is a good point though. The defense has been terrible.)
He’s doing all he can.
And almost every side pick & roll… and almost every pick & roll ever created…
The Cavs shot 61% in the half, yet the deficit is only seven for the Pacers. That’s minor miracle all things considered.
Other than the refs, Pacers fans have their focus on the sub-par performances of Jeff Teague and Myles Turner. Indiana needs more from its core players to pull off an upset.
Looks like my baby cousin’s shot chart on his Nerf hoop.
3rd QUARTER
Nine points in the first three minutes of the quarter. Keep feeding him.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the floor, the switching is being punished and LeBron is having his way. The PG-LBJ duel is warming up.
https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/853346387429400576
Turner dunked on many-a-Cavalier. The Pacers are hanging around.
The switching when there’s no need to switch keeps happening. Oy vey.
https://twitter.com/Schultz975/status/853350520077111296
A 10-0 Cavs run gives Cleveland a 90-78 lead.
Pacers cut the deficit to eight to end the quarter. It hasn’t gotten away from them… yet.
4th QUARTER
Meanwhile, the switching continues and Cleveland continues to feast. Pacers down by double digits.
Born. Ready. Pacers cut it to six & force a Cavs timeout.
They may be outmanned & outmatched… but they keep fighting.
Oh my!
Oh. My.
Pacers down four with 1:37 left.
Pacers turnover… but Cavs turn it back over.
PG pulls up from 26 feet and buries a three and the Pacers get a stop. Pacers down by one with the ball and a chance to win!
Soooooo close to taking Game 1 on the road.
The defense was ridiculously bad, but Indiana was one shot away from stealing Game 1 at the defending champs’ place. They missed this opportunity, but hopefully it gives the Pacers confidence that they can compete in this series and make it tough on Cleveland.
Until Game 2 on Monday.