Cleveland came out strong and took a double-digit lead in the first quarter despite not having Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and LeBron James (rest), but Indiana surged back to take a 51-45 halftime lead. The Pacers carried that momentum into the second half where they extended the lead, then held off a furious Cavs rally to secure the win.
Turning Point:
Indiana closed the second quarter on a 12-3 run to grab the lead, and they seemed to stun the Cavs heading into the locker room. Cleveland never led again.
Key Stat:
The Cavs sputtered on offense without James and Irving as they shot just 35.9 percent from the field and didn't record a single fast-break point.
Cleveland MVP:
Iman Shumpert provided a spark off the bench with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but J.R. Smith led the team with 21 points.
Indiana MVP:
George Hill put up a triple-double (15 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds) to lead the Pacers, and was helped by Rodney Stuckey's 19 points off the bench.
What’s Next?
Cleveland will take on the Rockets in Houston on Sunday while Indiana hosts the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
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