It wasn’t a pretty game, but the Cavs squeaked out a 109-108 victory to take a 1-0 series lead over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
The Cavs shot 14-of-27 at the free throw line and allowed Indiana to shoot 49.4 percent from the field, but their defense made big stops when it needed to.
Indiana had a chance to win the game with the ball and less than ten seconds to play. but the Cavs blitzed All-Star forward Paul George, not allowing him to have any looks at the hoop. Georged dumped it off to C.J. Miles, who missed a good look at the buzzer and the Cavs were able to hang on for the win.
From the start of the game, it was clear the Cavs came with more energy and emotion than most of the 82 regular season games, but in the third quarter, LeBron sent a shockwave through Quicken Loans Arena, throwing down a dunk in transition off an assist from Richard Jefferson.
LEBRON IS HYPED pic.twitter.com/qAUc1jYKQS
— Basketball Society (@BBallSociety_) April 15, 2017
Indiana was able to hang around long enough to stay in the ballgame heading into the closing minutes, thanks in large part to big contributions off the bench from Lance Stephenson, who scored eight of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.
The Cavs led, 103-102, before Jeff Teague drained a clutch three-pointer with 3:31 to play, giving Indy its first lead since the first quarter.
LeBron came right back with a timely bucket to tie the game at 105.
Kyrie Irving hit a smooth jumper to give Cleveland the lead and J.R. Smith drew a foul after another big defensive stop. Smith split a pair of free throws, making it a three-point game. Cleveland’s defense continued to hold the Pacers in check and LeBron drew a foul, splitting a pair to make it 109-105.
Paul George responded with a huge three to cut it to a one-point game and LeBron took a questionable three on the other end, which was no good, giving Indiana the ball with 20 seconds to play.
The Cavs had a foul to give and used it with ten seconds to play, setting Indiana up for an inbounds play, which the Pacers wanted to run for their star.
The Cavs took George away, doubleteaming him, leading to Miles’ miss at the buzzer.
Watch highlights from the nailbiter below:
All the clutch moments down the stretch as @cavs hold off @pacers to take game one! #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/vw0xesuikC
— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2017
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