The Indiana Pacers headed into Game 2 with an opportunity to steal home court advantage away from the heavily-favored Cleveland Cavaliers after coming up just one point short in Game 1. The Pacers showed they can keep up with the Cavs offensively, but they never had an answer defensively.
Could they find a way to slow down LeBron & Co. enough to tie the series? Here’s how Pacers fans & media reacted to the game on Twitter as it happened:
PREGAME
Coach McMillan says both Glenn Robinson III and Al Jefferson will be available tonight.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 17, 2017
Good news! GR3 can provide some positional flexibility on the defensive side.
Pacers' starters, Round 1, Game 2: Jeff Teague, Monta Ellis, Paul George, Thaddeus Young & Myles Turner.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 17, 2017
No changes here… however.
1st QUARTER
Paul George has the first 2 points of Game 2!#NBAPlayoffs on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/5DcQeHN6hv
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2017
“Reach back like 1-3… like 1-3” © Aubrey Graham
Home team appears disengaged. Lue calls time out, down 9-4.
— Mark Joseph Boyle (@Mark_J_Boyle) April 17, 2017
PG with seven early points.
Paul George is cleared for takeoff on @NBAonTNT! pic.twitter.com/bxGScg3Oju
— NBA (@NBA) April 17, 2017
And then, he did that!
Monta Ellis then loses JR Smith for a wide open three. Nate McMillan can't be excused for this screw up. This is embarrassing.
— Joe Beckman (@Beckman24Joe) April 17, 2017
Monta still the bane of Pacers’ Twitter existence.
Larry Bird not feeling it… pic.twitter.com/xNtOMkg8kP
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) April 17, 2017
That feeling when your team turns it over and LeBron James gets a fast break dunk. Pacers down three late in the quarter.
OK, Glenn Robinson III. A offensive rebound & a corner 3.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 17, 2017
GR-Trifecta. Tie game.
End of 1: Cavaliers 32, Pacers 29. Paul George has 10 points. Jeff Teague has 8.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 17, 2017
Offense isn’t a problem. Defense is… well… *shrug* The defending champs are just plain good.
2nd QUARTER
McMillan has apparently taken Aaron Brooks out of rotation. GRIII now getting wing minutes and Lance + Monta can run backup point.
— Wheat Hotchkiss (@Wheat_Hotchkiss) April 17, 2017
Somebody had to get the axe…
Zero help on LeBron once he sprinted past Stephenson. Cavs have now moved in front by 11.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) April 17, 2017
The Pacers are playing lineups that haven’t played together before in an effort to match up to the Cavs. The offense is stagnant as a result. The defense hasn’t gotten much better. Still early in the quarter, but it’s starting to get away.
The Cavaliers have made 9 3-pointers tonight. Cleveland made 11 3s all game Saturday.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 17, 2017
I think Craig Ehlo and Mark Price just hit threes too… not sure though.
Imagine having George Hill and Frank Vogel and wanting Jeff Teague and Nate McMillan instead.
— Nicholas Sciria (@Nick_Sciria) April 17, 2017
Oy.
Really bananas how good these fools are....
— Michael Grady (@Grady) April 17, 2017
Let’s not lose sight of this… They are the Champs and are led by a basketball savant. Pacers down 11 midway through the quarter.
Cleveland is executing pretty well offensively. pic.twitter.com/ltTuEZZiYB
— Jeremiah Johnson (@PacersJJ) April 17, 2017
Even the Pacers free throw defense has declined from Game 1. Yuck.
Fire Nate McMillan.
— Alan Squier (@alan_squier) April 17, 2017
Fans are none too happy with the coach’s performance.
LARRY BIRD IS EATING HIMSELF pic.twitter.com/FS1CxfzBjM
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) April 18, 2017
Desperate times call for desperate measures…
PG putting on a dunk show tonight https://t.co/wTVeQ8t6m4
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 18, 2017
He’s trying, man…
Halftime: Cavs 63, #Pacers 58@Yg_Trece 18p/3r@Teague0 12p/4a@yungsmoove21 10p/1a pic.twitter.com/Eo3FPCmVav
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 18, 2017
I've watched this entire game and have no idea how the Pacers are within 5
— Nat Newell (@NatJNewell) April 18, 2017
Pacers close half on 7-1 run to get within five at the half. They are shooting the ball well, but do they have a defensive answer?
Good news only. We have to think (tweet) positive. pic.twitter.com/bt92aT8bcr
— Shekinah Young (@Mrs___Young21) April 18, 2017
A reminder that Pacers wives’ Twitter is the best Twitter.
3rd QUARTER
And Cavs start second half with 7-0 run.
— iPacers.com (@iPacersblog) April 18, 2017
Welp, there goes all those good feelings we had heading into the half.
Been a fun shootout between Jeff Teague's Defense and Kyrie Irving's Defense
— Mike Prada. (PRAY-duh) (@MikePradaNBA) April 18, 2017
Sub-optimal at best.
Jeff Teague in serious pain holding his right wrist after a hard fall.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) April 18, 2017
He stepped up and knocked down both free throws & stayed in the game.
Myles Turner is frightened
— Very easily distracted ☝🏾 (@freshface72) April 18, 2017
It hasn’t been a good night for the young fella.
Pacers biggest problem in this series is that they have no identity other than, "Welp, PG is awesome."
— Jon Washburn (@DeanOfMortgages) April 18, 2017
And that ain’t enough against this team.
This doesn’t help either.
17-point game, mainly because of an insane matchup.
— Michael Grady (@Grady) April 18, 2017
That wasn't created on a switch. The coaching staff actually has Lance on Love.
Lance gets three fouls in a minute and half due to a McMillan lineup change in an effort to stop the switching on pick-and-rolls involving LeBron & Kyrie.
LeBron smartly keeps going to him, LeBron is like a basketball computer
— Very easily distracted ☝🏾 (@freshface72) April 18, 2017
Another extended scoring run from an opponent, another chance for McMillan to never call timeout.
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) April 18, 2017
Ten straight points from Love have blown the game wide open. Pacers trail by 19.
The Nate McMillan experience has really been something so far in this series.
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) April 18, 2017
He hasn’t exactly covered himself in glory. Let’s just say that.
End of the 3rd: Cavs 96, #Pacers 78@Yg_Trece 22p/6r@Teague0 18p/4a@yungsmoove21 10p/1r pic.twitter.com/b2ISRe0IU1
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 18, 2017
It’s looking bleak.
4th QUARTER
Man @masfresco is a pro. Terrible late call and he just walks it off like he's dipping out of the club
— NaptownSeth (@NaptownSeth) April 18, 2017
LeBron misses a lay-up so there must be a foul, right?
#Pacers not packing it in. 7-0 run to start fourth quarter to trim deficit to 11.
— Wheat Hotchkiss (@Wheat_Hotchkiss) April 18, 2017
A little life?
Cavs Big Three are 29 of 42 from the field. Cavs lead 109-96 with 5:37 left.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) April 18, 2017
Nah, not really.
Myles Turner: @Pacers' one-man "Do Not Pass Go" guy#NBAPlayoffs #GoPacers pic.twitter.com/yzmELOoUyD
— NBA.com (@NBAcom) April 18, 2017
Fans definitely getting antsy in here. #Pacers within single digits with 4 minutes to go.
— Wheat Hotchkiss (@Wheat_Hotchkiss) April 18, 2017
Ok, this team is getting on my nerves. Make a decision: Are you in it or nah???
Pacers aren't done yet. A 19 point deficit is down to 7 with 3:14 to go.
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) April 18, 2017
A couple of stops, a few buckets. Didn’t seem possible, especially the stops part.
Pacers fans are not happy with the coach despite the team’s fight.
“I can’t do nuttin’ for ya, man” © Public Enemy
Just refusing to get a rebound
— Very easily distracted ☝🏾 (@freshface72) April 18, 2017
With the Pacers down five, the Cavs miss a three-pointer but Tristan Thompson bullies Myles Turner for an offensive rebound.
Not the best D I’ve seen on that Kyrie layup. Geez oh wiz, you guys.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 18, 2017
Another miscommunication and Kyrie sails in for an easy lay-up and an eight point lead. That’ll do it.
FINAL: Cavaliers 117, Pacers 111. Paul George had 32 points. Kyrie Irving had 37. The Pacers are down 0-2 in the series.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 18, 2017
They fought back from another double digit deficit, but come up short in the end.
Cleveland is a matchup nightmare, but the Pacers aren’t helping themselves with all the defensive miscommunication.
There is light at the end of the tunnel, though. The Pacers are going home for Games 3 & 4. It remains to be seen if that light at the end of the tunnel is just a locomotive powered by the game’s greatest player.