Cleveland came out and blew the doors of the Pacers in the first quarter, dominating them like Richard Petty for a 34-12 beatdown. The Cavs lapped them with relentless defense and forceful offense. Sadly, the Wine and Gold, on the second night of a back-to-back could not sustain, and relaxed towards the end of the second and let the Pacers back in the game. In the early third, defensive lapses got Indiana back into the lead, and they ran that pace car all the way to the brick stripe to edge out the Cavs. Questionable substitutions, plodding offense, and an inability to shoot ultimately doomed Cleveland who fell to an Indy team missing their second best player.
Recap: Cleveland 97, Indiana 95 (or, Pushing the Car)
