For the second straight postseason game, the Cleveland Cavaliers allowed a big lead over the Indiana Pacers to dwindle down to single digits instead of finishing off the route and resting their starters ahead of tonight’s Game 3 matchup at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
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It was a tough Thursday night for Kobe Bryant. In 42 minutes, he compiled 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to go with four blocks and four steals.
However, something happened during the halftime break and things flipped in the second half to the tune of a 26-point comeback by Cleveland that matched the NBA Playoff record.
James had another stellar playoff performance in Game 2.
Paul George scored 32 and Jeff Teague 23 for IN, which showed more fight, but now has a steep hill to climb to get back IN the series. Jeff Teague scored 23 points, and Thaddeus Young contributed 16. Cleveland is 12-0 when starting 2-0 in the postseason. Stephenson had a strong workout with Cleveland in January before latching on with in, but coach Tyronn Lue said his recent injuries dissuaded the Cavs from signing him. We’ve got your way to watch via live stream. Lastly worth noting in this department is that the Cavs often try to get a switch to get the matchup they want for an isolation play. Just gotta get into him, make him pass the ball.
“We’re playing some really, really good basketball”, James said. Using him to draw fouls, get under the Pacers’ skin and create scoring in the paint are great assets to have. And now the Pacers are two losses away from being eliminated by James’ team for the fourth time in six years, the first three while James played for Miami. Shumpert was only exhumed by Lue when J.R. Smith, one of Cleveland’s better defensive players simply by virtue of being average, left Game 2 with a hamstring injury. He missed three months with a fractured right thumb and was visibly frustrated by the latest setback when he returned to the bench after the third quarter started.
“We have so many pieces on this team, but everyone has to stay ready”, Irving said. “Everybody knows we (Stephenson and I) have a strong relationship”.
Through two games of what should be a long playoff run, it would be easy to look at the Cleveland Cavaliers and think all is right in their world. “It takes four rounds to get to the finals and win”. He needs to know at this point he has to take it to the next level. Even when we’re down big.
“Lance got excited because he made a couple shots and was talking stuff to the bench”.
Signing George would not be without risks, though, as he would be the veteran on the Purple and Gold dealing with fresh-out-of-college players without his same basketball mind in an organization that has not made the playoffs since 2012. Magic Johnson can’t say that. The result showed up in the box score with James and Irving combining for less than half of the Cavaliers’ assists in Game 2.
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“It’s hard to win playoff games like this”.
