The Cavaliers lost a game Friday night almost everyone expected them to lose. It’s how they did it that offers some hope this season won’t be as unwatchable as the one preceding it.

They were on the verge of getting pushed out of the gym early in the fourth quarter, down by 11 points and the Pacers dominating the paint. The Cavs drop this game by 20 points a year ago. Instead, they had a chance to win it at the fourth-quarter buzzer if Kyrie Irving’s layup falls.

Final score: Pacers 98, Cavaliers 91.

We’ll spare you all the last-minute drama as that is covered in our game story.

Irving had a strong start and finished with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and three turnovers in 34 minutes. He dominated the ball over the final seven minutes and overtime, but appeared to tire. The haters will focus on the missed shot after a ridiculous cross-over dribble. That’s fair enough. It comes with the territory of being the No. 1 pick. But there was never a question who would take the shot. That says something for a 19-year-old playing in his third NBA game.

“Irving is a heckuva player right now,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “Not going to be — but right now . . . Fortunately, he missed.”

The Cavaliers were careless again in handling the ball (18 turnovers) and poor at the foul line (18-of-31). While the end was absorbing, the Cavaliers were doomed by a poor third quarter that saw them convert 4-of-18 shots and commit seven turnovers. 

The Pacers, among the Eastern Conference’s top teams, create match-up problems with their length and aggressiveness. The front-line quartet of David West, Roy Hibbert, Danny Granger and Tyler Hansbrough combined for 64 points and 42 rebounds. West is an excellent addition and he plays with a nasty streak. His flagrant foul on Varejao knocked the big Brazilian out of the game for several minutes as trainers tended to his back.

Varejao was leveled several times, but produced another consistent game with 14 points and 13 rebounds. His fellow starters on the front line did not play as well. Omri Casspi appears to be pressing. He contributed four points on 1-of-6 shooting in 23 minutes. Cavs coach Byron Scott went with Alonzo Gee down the stretch and he responded with 10 points, four assists and lots of good defense. Gee has been the team’s best small forward in the season’s opening week. Meanwhile, Antawn Jamison was 4-of-14 from the floor, including 0-of-5 from behind the arc. He took an ill-advised shot in OT that the Pacers turned into a bucket at the other end.

Except for Gee and Daniel Gibson, the bench was not as noticeable on Friday. After blocking two early shots, rookie Tristan Thompson had his quietest game with two points and two rebounds in 17 minutes. Of course, he was going up against a quality front line as previously stated. The other Cav who merits mention is Anthony Parker who delivered two 3-pointers as the shot clock was running out in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The hunch here is there will be lots of these losses, games in which the Cavs compete but don’t win because they lack the talent. With Irving they are more entertaining and dangerous. They also have someone who’s not afraid of the moment.
 
“Ten games from now, he’ll make those shots,” Scott said. “I
love the fact he wants the ball. That’s a great sign.”

CBSSports.com wire reports
Dec. 30, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS — Another ugly game, another win for the Indiana Pacers.

Danny Granger scored nine of his 22 points in overtime, after No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving missed a layup that would have won it at the end of regulation, and Indiana beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91 on Friday night.

Indiana has shot below 40 percent from the field in each game this season, yet is off to a 3-0 start. Indy went 0-19 last season when shooting under 40 percent, but the Pacers have a new identity this season under coach Frank Vogel, a hard-nosed approach that emphasizes defense and rebounding.

Gone are the days when the Pacers flung 3-pointers at will — Indiana made just two against the Cavaliers. Indiana had three players with double-doubles for points and rebounds for the second time this season: Roy Hibbert had 17 points and 13 rebounds, David West had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Tyler Hansbrough added 11 points and 12 boards.

It’s what Vogel calls “smash mouth basketball.” And the Pacers say they are only going to get better.

“When we start shooting over 40 percent, it’s going to look a lot prettier out there, and we won’t have to grind these wins out,” Hibbert said. “Just to be able to do this now is great.”

Part of the reason Indiana has been able to get away with shooting so poorly is the team’s ability to make shots at key moments. Granger shot just 5 of 17 in regulation, but was 3 of 5 in the extra period. On Wednesday against Toronto, Granger made two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter after struggling throughout the game.

“That’s what Danny does,” Hibbert said. “He makes big shots down the stretch and we follow his lead. David and I try to be defensive anchors, and everything else falls into place.”

George Hill added 15 points for the Pacers.

Irving led Cleveland with 20 points in his best game so far, but missed a layup that would have won the game at the end of regulation. Irving got by his defender and drove the lane for an open shot, but the ball rimmed out, and the game went to overtime.

“I had a great look at it,” the 19-year-old Irving said. “Wish it would have gone down for me and my teammates to get this win, but it didn’t. We fought hard in overtime. We just didn’t come out with the win.”

The Pacers knew they got away with one.

“Irving is a heck of a player,” Vogel said. “Not `going to be,’ but right now. He got by our pick-and-roll defense and got penetration to the basket. Fortunately, he missed.”

Irving said he’d learn from the experience.

“I left it all out there in the floor,” he said. “All you can do is leave it out there, play hard, and go to sleep and get better the next day.”

Anderson Varejao added 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Anthony Parker and Antawn Jamison each scored 12 points for the Cavaliers.

The score was tied late in regulation until West made a pair of free throws with 2:12 left to give the Pacers an 82-80 lead.

Irving made one of two free throws to cut it to 82-81 heading into the final minute.

Parker’s 3-pointer as the shot clock expired gave Cleveland an 84-82 lead with 17.5 seconds left. Indiana, with no timeouts, immediately went into its offense. West nearly lost the ball, regained control, drove and dropped in a floater with 4.4 seconds left to tie the score.

Granger took over in the extra period. He hit a layup while closely defended by Alonzo Gee. Jamison’s 3-pointer was blocked by West, then Granger hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to put the Pacers up 93-87, and Indiana maintained its lead from there.

The Pacers led 70-61 at the end of the third quarter. Cleveland made just 4 of 18 shots and committed seven turnovers in the period.

Hill carried the Pacers early in the fourth quarter. He hit a baseline jumper, then converted a three-point play to push Indiana’s lead to 75-64. Cleveland rallied, and a reverse layup by Irving trimmed the Pacers’ lead to 76-72 and forced Indiana to call timeout with 6:40 remaining. The game remained close the rest of the way.

“We took some bad shots, made some bad plays down the stretch, and we added fuel to the fire by giving up layups on the other end and giving Anthony Parker open threes,” Granger said.

Cleveland coach Byron Scott said it was a positive step for his young team.

“We had an opportunity to win the game before the overtime period, but I just loved the way our guys competed, against a team we feel is one of the better teams in the East,” he said. “Our effort was fantastic and something we should be proud of.”

Notes

Indiana F/C Jeff Foster sat out with a sore lower back. Vogel said he planned to use Foster sparingly early in the season anyway. … Cleveland coach Scott played for the Pacers for two years. … Indiana F Jeff Pendergraph missed the game with a sore right knee. … The Pacers failed to make a 3-pointer in the first half and Cleveland made just one. .. Cleveland G Daniel Gibson left the game in the second quarter with a sprained right ring finger. He returned in the third quarter. … Cleveland’s Samardo Samuels fouled out with 9:25 remaining.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—Another ugly game, another win for the Indiana Pacers.

Danny Granger scored nine of his 22 points in overtime, after No. 1 pick
Kyrie Irving missed a layup that would have won it at the end of regulation, and
Indiana beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91 on Friday night.

Indiana has shot below 40 percent from the field in each game this season,
yet is off to a 3-0 start. Indy went 0-19 last season when shooting under 40
percent, but the Pacers have a new identity this season under coach Frank Vogel,
a hard-nosed approach that emphasizes defense and rebounding.

Gone are the days when the Pacers flung 3-pointers at will—Indiana made
just two against the Cavaliers. Indiana had three players with double-doubles
for points and rebounds for the second time this season: Roy Hibbert had 17
points and 13 rebounds, David West had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Tyler
Hansbrough added 11 points and 12 boards.

It’s what Vogel calls “smash mouth basketball.” And the Pacers say they
are only going to get better.

“When we start shooting over 40 percent, it’s going to look a lot prettier
out there, and we won’t have to grind these wins out,” Hibbert said. “Just to
be able to do this now is great.”

Part of the reason Indiana has been able to get away with shooting so poorly
is the team’s ability to make shots at key moments. Granger shot just 5 of 17 in
regulation, but was 3 of 5 in the extra period. On Wednesday against Toronto,
Granger made two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter after struggling
throughout the game.

“That’s what Danny does,” Hibbert said. “He makes big shots down the
stretch and we follow his lead. David and I try to be defensive anchors, and
everything else falls into place.”

George Hill added 15 points for the Pacers.

Irving led Cleveland with 20 points in his best game so far, but missed a
layup that would have won the game at the end of regulation. Irving got by his
defender and drove the lane for an open shot, but the ball rimmed out, and the
game went to overtime.

“I had a great look at it,” the 19-year-old Irving said. “Wish it would
have gone down for me and my teammates to get this win, but it didn’t. We fought
hard in overtime. We just didn’t come out with the win.”

The Pacers knew they got away with one.

“Irving is a heck of a player,” Vogel said. “Not `going to be,’ but right
now. He got by our pick-and-roll defense and got penetration to the basket.
Fortunately, he missed.”

Irving said he’d learn from the experience.

“I left it all out there in the floor,” he said. “All you can do is leave
it out there, play hard, and go to sleep and get better the next day.”

Anderson Varejao added 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Anthony Parker and
Antawn Jamison each scored 12 points for the Cavaliers.

The score was tied late in regulation until West made a pair of free throws
with 2:12 left to give the Pacers an 82-80 lead.

Irving made one of two free throws to cut it to 82-81 heading into the final
minute.

Parker’s 3-pointer as the shot clock expired gave Cleveland an 84-82 lead
with 17.5 seconds left. Indiana, with no timeouts, immediately went into its
offense. West nearly lost the ball, regained control, drove and dropped in a
floater with 4.4 seconds left to tie the score.

Granger took over in the extra period. He hit a layup while closely defended
by Alonzo Gee. Jamison’s 3-pointer was blocked by West, then Granger hit a
3-pointer from the left corner to put the Pacers up 93-87, and Indiana
maintained its lead from there.

The Pacers led 70-61 at the end of the third quarter. Cleveland made just 4
of 18 shots and committed seven turnovers in the period.

Hill carried the Pacers early in the fourth quarter. He hit a baseline
jumper, then converted a three-point play to push Indiana’s lead to 75-64.
Cleveland rallied, and a reverse layup by Irving trimmed the Pacers’ lead to
76-72 and forced Indiana to call timeout with 6:40 remaining. The game remained
close the rest of the way.

“We took some bad shots, made some bad plays down the stretch, and we added
fuel to the fire by giving up layups on the other end and giving Anthony Parker
open threes,” Granger said.

Cleveland coach Byron Scott said it was a positive step for his young team.

“We had an opportunity to win the game before the overtime period, but I
just loved the way our guys competed, against a team we feel is one of the
better teams in the East,” he said. “Our effort was fantastic and something we
should be proud of.”

— —

Notes: Indiana F/C Jeff Foster sat out with a sore lower back. Vogel said he
planned to use Foster sparingly early in the season anyway. … Cleveland coach
Scott played for the Pacers for two years. … Indiana F Jeff Pendergraph missed
the game with a sore right knee. … The Pacers failed to make a 3-pointer in
the first half and Cleveland made just one. .. Cleveland G Daniel Gibson left
the game in the second quarter with a sprained right ring finger. He returned in
the third quarter. … Cleveland’s Samardo Samuels fouled out with 9:25
remaining.

— —

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap

Indiana has shot below 40 percent from the field in each game this season, yet is off to a 3-0 start. Indy went 0-19 last season when shooting under 40 percent, but the Pacers have a new identity this season under coach Frank Vogel, a hard-nosed approach that emphasizes defense and rebounding.

Gone are the days when the Pacers flung 3-pointers at will — Indiana made just two against the Cavaliers. Indiana had three players with double-doubles for points and rebounds for the second time this season: Roy Hibbert had 17 points and 13 rebounds, David West had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Tyler Hansbrough added 11 points and 12 boards.

It’s what Vogel calls “smash mouth basketball.” And the Pacers say they are only going to get better.

“When we start shooting over 40 percent, it’s going to look a lot prettier out there, and we won’t have to grind these wins out,” Hibbert said. “Just to be able to do this now is great.”

Part of the reason Indiana has been able to get away with shooting so poorly is the team’s ability to make shots at key moments. Granger shot just 5 of 17 in regulation, but was 3 of 5 in the extra period. On Wednesday against Toronto, Granger made two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter after struggling throughout the game.

“That’s what Danny does,” Hibbert said. “He makes big shots down the stretch and we follow his lead. David and I try to be defensive anchors, and everything else falls into place.”

George Hill added 15 points for the Pacers.

Irving led Cleveland with 20 points in his best game so far, but missed a layup that would have won the game at the end of regulation. Irving got by his defender and drove the lane for an open shot, but the ball rimmed out, and the game went to overtime.

“I had a great look at it,” the 19-year-old Irving said. “Wish it would have gone down for me and my teammates to get this win, but it didn’t. We fought hard in overtime. We just didn’t come out with the win.”

The Pacers knew they got away with one.

“Irving is a heck of a player,” Vogel said. “Not ‘going to be,’ but right now. He got by our pick-and-roll defense and got penetration to the basket. Fortunately, he missed.”

Irving said he’d learn from the experience.

“I left it all out there in the floor,” he said. “All you can do is leave it out there, play hard, and go to sleep and get better the next day.”

Anderson Varejao added 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Anthony Parker and Antawn Jamison each scored 12 points for the Cavaliers.

The score was tied late in regulation until West made a pair of free throws with 2:12 left to give the Pacers an 82-80 lead.

Irving made one of two free throws to cut it to 82-81 heading into the final minute.

Parker’s 3-pointer as the shot clock expired gave Cleveland an 84-82 lead with 17.5 seconds left. Indiana, with no timeouts, immediately went into its offense. West nearly lost the ball, regained control, drove and dropped in a floater with 4.4 seconds left to tie the score.

Granger took over in the extra period. He hit a layup while closely defended by Alonzo Gee. Jamison’s 3-pointer was blocked by West, then Granger hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to put the Pacers up 93-87, and Indiana maintained its lead from there.

The Pacers led 70-61 at the end of the third quarter. Cleveland made just 4 of 18 shots and committed seven turnovers in the period.

Hill carried the Pacers early in the fourth quarter. He hit a baseline jumper, then converted a three-point play to push Indiana’s lead to 75-64. Cleveland rallied, and a reverse layup by Irving trimmed the Pacers’ lead to 76-72 and forced Indiana to call timeout with 6:40 remaining. The game remained close the rest of the way.

“We took some bad shots, made some bad plays down the stretch, and we added fuel to the fire by giving up layups on the other end and giving Anthony Parker open threes,” Granger said.

Cleveland coach Byron Scott said it was a positive step for his young team.

“We had an opportunity to win the game before the overtime period, but I just loved the way our guys competed, against a team we feel is one of the better teams in the East,” he said. “Our effort was fantastic and something we should be proud of.”

__

Notes: Indiana F/C Jeff Foster sat out with a sore lower back. Vogel said he planned to use Foster sparingly early in the season anyway. … Cleveland coach Scott played for the Pacers for two years. … Indiana F Jeff Pendergraph missed the game with a sore right knee. … The Pacers failed to make a 3-pointer in the first half and Cleveland made just one. .. Cleveland G Daniel Gibson left the game in the second quarter with a sprained right ring finger. He returned in the third quarter. … Cleveland’s Samardo Samuels fouled out with 9:25 remaining.

__

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap

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