Cavs – Pacers Game Day Notes

Wednesday, November 16th, 2016

WHEN: 7:00 PM EST
WHERE: @TheFieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
WATCH: @FOXSportsOH, @FSIndiana
LISTEN: @WMMS 100.7 FM, @wtam1100, @1070thefan, y La Mega 87.7FM

– Cavaliers (9-1, 1st in Central): After last night’s grind-out win over the Toronto Raptors inside Quicken Loans Arena (121-117), the Cleveland Cavaliers are off to their best start in forty years (1976-77).

Cavs take down Raptors for 2nd time this season.

Their 9-1 start marks the best start ever through 10 games for any LeBron James team. pic.twitter.com/ii0FO0aaZa

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 16, 2016

LeBron James led all Cleveland scorers in Tuesday night’s victory, en route to 28 points, 14 assists, nine rebounds, and one steal in his 38 minutes of playing time.

Coming into tonight’s bout with the Indiana Pacers, James is averaging 23.4 points, 9.6 assists (career-high), and 8.9 rebounds per contest.

Cleveland’s role players have answered the bell when called on through the early stages of this year’s campaign – most notably, Channing Frye.

Allow me to be blunt…

Channing Frye has been shooting the lights out of the gym.

In last night’s win over the Raptors, Frye turned in his best game as a Cavalier, scoring 21 points (7-10 from the field, 5-8 from downtown), three rebounds, one assist, and one block in 20 minutes of playing time.

Frye’s stats through Cleveland’s first ten games are remarkable. An early hot hand has Frye averaging 12.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game – all while shooting the three-ball at a 51% clip (26-51). Furthermore, Frye has quietly crept into a top-ten spot amongst the NBA’s best shooters from beyond the arc.

Tonight’s match-up will be the first of four bouts between the Cavs and Pacers (at Indiana on 2/8, at Cleveland on 2/15 and 4/2).

* Milestone *

With just seven more assists, LeBron James (6,911) will pass Guy Rodgers (6.917) for the 17th position on the NBA’s all-time assists list.

* Cavaliers projected starting lineup (subject to change) *

(PG) Kyrie Irving (6′-3″, 193 lbs)
(SG) J.R. Smith (6′-6″, 225 lbs)
(SF) LeBron James (6′-8″, 250 lbs)
(PF) Kevin Love (6′-10″, 251 lbs)
(PF) Tristan Thompson (6′-10″, 238 lbs)

* Cavaliers injury report *

– (SG) J.R. Smith (ankle): Questionable

– Pacers (5-6), 5th in Central): Indiana comes into tonight’s game as losers in three of their previous five outings. However, The Pacers snapped their two-game losing skid with an impressive (88-69) victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse – spoiling former Pacers Head Coach Frank Vogel’s return to Indianapolis.

C.J. Miles led his team to victory in Monday’s win, recording 16 points (4-8 from downtown), four rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and two steals in just 23 minutes of playing time.

Paul George is Indiana’s lead man when it comes to scoring. Entering tonight’s bout with Cleveland, George is averaging 21.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.

After Tuesday’s practice, Pacers Head Coach Nate McMillan spoke to members of the media with regards to their upcoming match-up against the defending champs, saying:

“It’s a big game. The world champs are coming in here…It’s kind of a game where you measure yourself.”

* Pacers projected starting lineup (subject to change) *

(PG) Jeff Teague (6′-2″, 186 lbs)
(SG) Monta Ellis (6′-3″, 185 lbs)
(SF) Paul George (6′-9″, 220 lbs)
(PF) Thaddeus Young (6′-8″, 221 lbs)
(C) Myles Turner (6′-11″, 243 lbs)

* Pacers injury report *

– (SG) Rodney Stuckey (hamstring): Out

* All stats and information via www.basketball-reference.com, www.rotoworld.com, www.nba.com, www.espn.com, Elias Sports Bureau, and The Associated Press *