Indiana Pacers Run Cleveland Cavaliers Out Of Their Building
By Jay Neal
Indiana Pacers win their third straight game, pulling away from the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
124. 100. Final. 107. 156
The Indiana Pacers could have had plenty of excuses had they not won this game. They were playing the second game of a back-to-back against a team that had been off for two days. The Pacers still without arguably their best player. Indiana was also playing against the best player on Earth and his Cleveland Cavaliers, the defending Eastern Conference Champions.
None of these excuses were needed.
Indiana played its best game of the young season, pulling away from Cleveland with a 13-2 run to end the game. The Pacers held the lead most of the night and answered each of the Cavs’ runs with precise ball movement and quality shot selection. LeBron James did everything he could to keep the Cavs in the game, but Indiana proved to be too much.
The Good: The Pacers’ ball movement and pace have been hallmarks of their nice start to the season. This game was no exception. Indiana finished with 35 assists on 49 field goals and outscored Cleveland 16-6 in fast break points.
The Bad: The Cavs’ pick and roll defense. The Pacers ran middle pick-and-roll with Domas Sabonis and got whatever they wanted.
MVP: Thad Young. 26 points on 12-of-18 shooting including a couple from downtown, with four steals while playing both the 4 and 5 spots. He was awesome.
LVP: Dwyane Wade. If he’s not washed, he’s in the clothes hamper on the way to the laundry room. He was pretty bad.
X-Factor: Darren Collison. Picked his spots nicely, kept everyone involved, and knocked down big shots. Can’t ask for much more.
A. Overcame a slow start and early foul trouble to score 23 points (20 in the 2nd half), including five 3-pointers.. SG. Indiana Pacers. VICTOR OLADIPO
A+. You may not have noticed, but Thad actually led the Pacers in scoring. He’s also played well at the 5-spot in the Pacers small lineups.. PF. Indiana Pacers. THADDEUS YOUNG
A-. He lost his head-to-head matchup to LeBron (obviously), but 17 points with 3 three-pointers. You’ll take that.<p> </p>. SF. Indiana Pacers. BOJAN BOGDANOVIC
A+. 25 points on 9-of-10 from the field, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds. Played a great floor game and hit a couple of timely shots to keep the Cavs at bay.. PG. Indiana Pacers. DARREN COLLISON
A. 15 points, 12 rebounds. Totally ravaged the Cavs defense on middle pick and roll all game.. PF/C. Indiana Pacers. DOMANTAS SABONIS
LANCE STEPHENSON. D. The slump continues for Lance. He had more low blows (1) than points (0). He hit the glass, but contributed nothing else.. SG. Indiana Pacers
Scored a bucket in 12 minutes. Not much else.. SF. Indiana Pacers. DAMIEN WILKINS. C
B+. Solid off the bench, as usual. Scored nine points, had six assists, and was pivotal in keeping the Pacers ahead early in the 4th quarter.. PG. Indiana Pacers. CORY JOSEPH
TJ LEAF. B-. Hit a three and wasn’t too awful on defense. He’s been better this year, but about all you can expect given the competition.. PF. Indiana Pacers
AL JEFFERSON. C+. Very short minutes in a game where the Cavs played small most of the night. He did have a nice dime while leading the break. Yes, that’s an accurate sentence.. C. Indiana Pacers