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.”