Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Match Player Stats On Apr 23, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Apr 23, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS -- LeBron James scored 33 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:08 remaining, and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers 106-102 on Sunday afternoon, completing a four-game NBA playoff opening-round series sweep.

Indiana, which never had been swept in a seven-game series, took a 102-100 lead on a Thaddeus Young tip-in with 1:31 to play, but the Cavaliers scored the game's final six points to advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference.

For James, it was his 21st consecutive first-round playoff game victory, breaking Magic Johnson's record of 20 set in the mid-1980s.

James' 3-pointer gave Cleveland a 103-102 lead, and Kyle Korver made two free throws with 19.1 seconds left for a 105-102 lead. Paul George missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer with one second left, and James got the rebound and was fouled. He made 1 of 2 free throws to account for the final score.

Kyrie Irving added 28 points, Deron Williams scored 14 and Kevin Love had five points and 16 rebounds.

Lance Stephenson led Indiana with 22 points, Myles Turner had 20 and George finished with 15 on only 5-of- 21 shooting.

Indiana closed to within 96-90 with 8:09 remaining, and a George 3-pointer sliced the deficit to 98-93 with 6:26 to play. With 4:17 remaining, the Pacers were within 100-98.

The Cavaliers increased their lead to 81-69 with 4:46 remaining in the third quarter. Cleveland outscored Indiana 30-25 during the third period and led 88-77 with 12 minutes remaining. James and Irving each had 26 points through 36 minutes, including 16 from Irving during the third quarter.

After the Pacers pulled even at 50 in the second quarter, the Cavaliers finished the first half on an 8-2 run to lead 58-52 through 24 minutes. Cleveland outscored Indiana 36-28 during the second period, getting 12 points from James and 12 from Deron Williams.

The Cavaliers shot 52.2 percent (12 of 23) in the second quarter and held George without a field goal on 0-of-4 shooting.

James finished the first half with 20 points, six rebounds and two assists. Kevin Love had 11 first-half rebounds. Stephenson led Indiana in the first half with 14 points, and Teague had 10.

Indiana led 24-22 after one quarter despite shooting only 43.5 percent (10 of 23) and turning the ball over five times. Teague had six first-quarter points, and George and Stephenson each added five. Cleveland got 10 first-quarter points from Irving and eight from James but was 0 of 6 from 3-point range.

NOTES: Cavaliers F Kevin Love had eight first-quarter rebounds. ... This series marks the second time in franchise history that the Pacers trailed a best-of-seven 3-0. In the first round of the 2010-2011 postseason, Indiana trailed the Chicago Bulls 3-0 and lost 4-1. ... Indiana set a franchise single-game playoff record with 16 made 3-pointers in Game 3 but also allowed a franchise record 21 made 3s in the 119-114 defeat. ... Through three games, Cleveland's 51 percent field goal shooting was the best among the 16 playoff teams. ... Entering Game 4, Cleveland had beaten Indiana six consecutive times, scoring at least 109 points in each of those six victories, which includes three regular-season games.