Wrap-Up — There isn’t much that Kyrie Irving hasn’t done in his already-brilliant five-year NBA career. But winning a game in Indiana was one of them – until Monday night.
Irving and Co. had to play some bonus hoops to get the job done after relinquishing a double-digit halftime lead, but eventually the Wine and Gold overcame the Pacers in overtime – winning their fifth straight game, 111-106, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
As he’s done throughout that five-year career, Irving saved his best for last – notching 15 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth period and overtime, including a pull-up jumper with 44 seconds to play in regulation to tie the game at 96-apiece and back-to-back buckets early in the extra-session that turned a one-point deficit into a three-point lead.
As it had in the previous four victories, he Cavaliers’ offense was rolling through the first two periods on Monday. Cleveland shot a gaudy 62 percent from the floor in the first half and took a 60-49 lead into the locker room.
But the Pacers rallied in the third quarter, and the Cavaliers resorted to some old habits that had their new head coach fuming. As Indiana methodically wiped away Cleveland’s lead, Coach Lue refused to take a timeout. Rookie big man Myles Turner’s short turnaround tied the score at 67-all and his rebound and put-back gave the Pacers their first lead since the first quarter.
Indiana held that small lead through the fourth quarter and Cleveland didn’t regain their advantage until LeBron James scored on a short jumper with 1:16 to play to give the Cavs a 94-93 edge.
George Hill canned a three-pointer on Indy’s next possession to give the Pacers back a two-point lead before Kyrie’s jumper evened the score. The Pacers had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Monta Ellis dribbled down the clock and took an off-balance jumper that barely drew iron.
In overtime, Kevin Love came up big on both ends – drilling a three-pointer less than a minute into the extra-session to give Cleveland an early lead and preserving that edge with the defensive play of the night, blocking Paul George’s layup attempt with 48 seconds to play.
Love finished with 19 points and eight boards, adding two steals and a pair of blocks. He was one of five Cavalier starters to score in double-figures – the second time in as many games, and sixth time this season the team has achieved that feat.
LeBron doubled-up with 24 points and 12 boards to go with six assists, two steals and a block.
LeBron, Anderson Varejao and Mo Williams were the only Cavaliers still with the Wine and Gold the last time the team won in Indiana – back on November 23, 2010. In that win, Cleveland’s starting lineup was James, J.J. Hickson, Shaquille O’Neal, Anthony Parker and Boobie Gibson.
Tristan Thompson, who also earned his first career win in Indiana, notched his second double-double in his last three outings – finishing with 14 points and a team-high 12 boards, seven of those off the offensive glass.
J.R. Smith was an even 7-for-14 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from long-distance for 19 points. Smith’s final triple of the night was his biggest – canning a 25-footer with just under two minutes to play that cut the Pacers’ four-point lead to one.
The Cavs shot an even 50 percent on the night, but the Pacers outdid Cleveland on the break and in the paint. Both teams committed 16 turnovers in a Central Division slugfest that saw five ties and 14 lead changes.
Turning Point — In a game that was back and forth through most of the second half, it’s difficult to pick a moment that changed the outcome.
The Big Three scored all 15 of Cleveland’s 15 points in overtime, but it was the opening salvo that put the Cavaliers in the position to win. Kevin Love’s triple erased Indy’s early two-point lead and Kyrie’s two straight scores gave the Cavaliers a three-point lead. George Hill scored two straight buckets, but Kyrie’s two free throws gave the Wine and Gold the lead back – one they’d hold the rest of the way.
By the Numbers – 1,579 … three-pointers that J.R. Smith has hit during the course of his career – including three on Monday night – moving into 18th place all-time ahead of Mike Miller. Next up on his radar is Jason Richardson, with 1,608.
Quotable – Coach Tyronn Lue, on his decision not to call timeout when the Pacers were making their third quarter run …
“They were looking to me to bail them out and I know I’m not in a position, considering my career. But I wouldn’t call a time out. I wouldn’t even look at them, like: ‘Y’all dug this hole, then get out of it.'”
Up Next – The Cavaliers play their final road game before the All-Star Break when they travel to Tobacco Road for a battle with the Hornets on Wednesday night. The Wine and Gold wrap up the first half of the season with four straight at The Q – beginning with a weekend back-to-back, welcoming the Celtics to Cleveland for a Friday night affair and Anthony Davis and the Pelicans – who they fell to in overtime in early December – on Saturday. They close out with a pair of California teams next week – with DeMarcus Cousins and the Kings rolling in on Monday followed by Kobe Bryant’s final appearance with the Lakers on Wednesday.
