If Sunday’s contest between Cleveland and Indiana was a Playoff preview, it’s gonna be one hell of a series.
In a game that had a little bit of everything – (and a lot of the two best small forwards in the East) – the Cavaliers and Pacers went toe-to-toe for four quarters and a pair of overtime sessions, with the Wine and Gold finally taking the 135-130 decision at Quicken Loans Arena.
James and George waged an epic battle on Sunday night – as the Cavaliers tried to keep pace with top-seeded Celtics and the Pacers, locked in a three-game logjam for the 8th seed, attempt to hold on for a postseason spot.
George finished with 43 points on 16-for-33 shooting, including 6-of-16 from deep – scoring 13 of Indiana’s 16 points in the second overtime and adding nine boards, nine assists, three steals and a block.
LeBron was just a bit better – tallying 41 points and notching his 11th triple-double of the season, adding a game-high 16 boards, a team-high 11 assists to go with two steals and a block. The four-time MVP, who scored 16 of Cleveland’s 21 points in the fourth quarter, went 16-for-29 from the floor on the night.
The Cavaliers led by two TDs – 91-77 – with 10:21 to play in regulation, but the Pacers continued to chip away and took the lead on Jeff Teague’s triple with 3:28 remaining. Indiana took a two-point edge on C.J. Miles three-pointer with 1:03 to play, but LeBron sank a short jumper to tie the game back up.
A pair of ugly late possessions by both squads – including Tristan Thompson missing a pair of late free throws – ensured bonus basketball on Sunday.
The Pacers hit another big three-pointer in the second overtime session – with Paul George’s trey putting the Pacers up, 113-11, with 1:33 to go. But J.R. Smith canned his fifth bomb of the night with 2.8 to play, putting the Cavs back up a point, 114-113.
The celebration didn’t last long, with George drawing a foul on Indy’s next possession. The four-time All-Star split the free throws, however, and – after another disappointing last possession, with Cleveland failing to find get off a shot – the game went to another extra period.
In the second overtime session, the Cavaliers offense – and Kevin Love, particularly – awoke, with Love scoring nine of his 20 points on 4-for-4 shooting, including a triple with 26.5 to play that made it a two-possession game and gave Cleveland just enough breathing space to seal the deal.
The game was not without its share of late-season drama. During one timeout in the second overtime, LeBron and Tristan Thompson were spotted barking at one another during a timeout, with Tristan leaving the huddle and sitting on the scorer’s table, where his teammates calmed him down.
And for much of the night, LeBron also got an earful from – and gave an earful to – Indiana’s Lance Stephenson, his postseason nemesis dating back to James’ Miami days. Stephenson, who’s played with five teams in three seasons since leaving the Pacers, was playing his first game back with Nate McMillan’s squad.
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