2017-18 Game Preview

Wheat Hotchkiss

It all comes down to this. After splitting six games in a back-and-forth, physical first-round series, the Pacers and Cavaliers will meet one final time on Sunday afternoon in a winner-take-all Game 7 in Cleveland.

For Indiana, it will be their second straight game facing elimination, but if Friday's performance is any indication, they should be up for the challenge. The Pacers delivered a major statement on Friday, rolling to a 34-point win in Game 6 in front of a partisan crowd at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The most encouraging part of Friday's victory was the play of All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, who busted out of a three-game slump in a major way. After only connecting on 12-of-50 shots in Games 3-5, Oladipo was simply brilliant in Game 6. He went 11-for-19 from the field and 6-for-8 from the 3-point line on his way and recorded a triple-double, tallying 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists (plus four steals on the defensive end).

With the season on the line, Oladipo came out with an aggressive mentality, attacking the rim and finishing with power instead of finesse, throwing down three dunks. It will be important for the former Indiana University All-American to keep the same mindset in Game 7.

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On the other end, the Cavaliers are the three-time defending Eastern Conference champions, but this year's team is clearly more flawed than those past squads that cruised to the NBA Finals. LeBron James has been otherworldly throughout this series, but he isn't getting much help.

Fellow All-Star Kevin Love has had a terrible postseason, averaging 11.0 points (6.6 below his season average) and shooting just 32.4 percent from the field. That's a credit to the Pacers' defense, primarily Thaddeus Young.

With Cleveland facing elimination and James eligible for free agency this summer, speculation has already begun that Sunday could be the four-time MVP's final game with the Cavs.

On the other side, Indiana — almost universally tabbed as a lottery team in preseason predictions — finds itself in position to, as Oladipo himself put it, "shock the world." In a season that has far exceeded outside expectations, the Pacers are on the verge of taking down the King.

Pacers: PG - Darren Collison, SG - Victor Oladipo, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerCavaliers: PG - Jose Calderon, SG - JR Smith, SF - Kyle Korver, PF - LeBron James, C - Kevin Love

Cavaliers: George Hill - questionable (back spasms)

April 27, 2018: Not only did the Pacers stave off elimination, they thoroughly dominated the Cavs in a 121-87 Game 6 win at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana led by 10 points and halftime, then outscored Cleveland 35-20 in the third quarter to put the game away.

"We were better connected on both ends of the floor," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said. "I thought the defense was connected. We were solid offensively. We moved the ball, attacked the basket and pretty much played that way for the 48 minutes."

Victor Oladipo led the way by recording the third playoff triple-double in Pacers NBA franchise history, but seven Pacers players finished in double figures in the win. All five starters scored at least 10 points, as did Domantas Sabonis (19 points and six rebounds) and Lance Stephenson (12 points and six assists off the bench).

LeBron James led Cleveland with 22 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. He did not play in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.

Should the Pacers win Game 7 and advance to the second round, an on-sale time for second-round tickets will be announced shortly after the game. Sign Up for VIP Access to Playoff Tickets »

Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »

TV: ABC - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Jeff Van Gundy (analyst), Mark Jackson (analyst), Doris Burke (sideline reporter)
FOX Sports Indiana - Postgame show only with Jeremiah Johnson and Eddie Gill reporting from Cleveland and Chris Denari and Quinn Buckner hosting from Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Cavaliers (Game 7)

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Please Note: Doors for Friday night's game will open at 6:00 PM ET

For a team that seemingly has built their identity around rallying from behind, Friday night's Game 6 against the Cavaliers will be the ultimate test of the Pacers' ability to overcome the odds.

After LeBron James added another chapter to his storied career on Wednesday night, burying a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired to take Game 5, the Pacers find themselves down 3-2 and on the brink of elimination.

During Game 5, the Pacers had yet another wild fourth-quarter rally, outscoring the Cavaliers 22-14 to tie the game. But with three seconds left, James made his final mark on the game, hitting the game-winner and sending Indiana into full desperation mode.

As the series returns to Bankers Life Fieldhouse for Game 6, the Pacers will be looking for its All-Star, Victor Oladipo, to find his shooting touch. After an impressive start to the series, Oladipo's shooting has hit a snag, going 12-of-50 over the last three games.

"I think I got some pretty good looks today. I just feel as though I missed," explained Oladipo after the game. "Credit them. They still did a great job on me, switching out. But I feel like I got pretty good looks, some open looks that I haven’t gotten at all this series. I just missed. I’m looking forward to Friday night."

While Oladipo started the series hot and has struggled since, the opposite has happened for Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis. The Lithuanian forward had yet another impressive night, leading the Pacers with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including a jumper that tied the game at 95.

With Sabonis and Turner both producing, Indiana has made things close in all three of its losses this series, losing the games by a combined 10 points.

But on Friday, close won't cut it in the win-or-go-home matchup. However, as a team that has been no stranger to comebacks this year, the Pacers will be in their comfort zone from the tip.

April 25, 2018: The Pacers fought valiantly on Wednesday night in Cleveland, but in the end, LeBron James' herculean effort was too much for Indiana.

James' buzzer-beating 3-pointer lifted the Cavaliers to a 98-95 win over the Pacers in Game 5 at Quicken Loans Arena. It was the final stroke of a masterful 44-point, 10-rebound, 8-assist performance from James and pushed the Pacers to the brink of elimination in their best-of-seven first-round series.

"I got screened by Kyle Korver a little bit," Pacers forward Thaddeus Young, who was guarding James on the final possession, said after the game. "I could have stayed closer. That last shot's on me. I definitely take that on my shoulders to be able to go out there and guard guys and force them to take tough shots ... but he made a hell of a shot."

Sabonis led the Pacers with 22 points off the bench on 8-of-12 shooting. Young added 16 points, while Oladipo recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Korver had 19 points off the bench for Cleveland, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range. Kevin Love added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the victors.

All fans in attendance will receive a gold "Together" t-shirt for the Game 6 Gold Out.

The Pacers and Cavaliers will return to Indianapolis for Game 6 on Friday, April 27 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 8:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
ESPN - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Jeff Van Gundy (analyst), Mark Jackson (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

Pacers Nation T-Shirt and "My City, Our House" T-shirts - $18. The Game Night Special can be purchased at the Pacers Team Store on game day, as well as online from 10:00 AM-Midnight. Order Online »

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Cavaliers (Game 6)

As the best-of-seven first-round series between the Pacers and Cavaliers shifts back to Cleveland for Game 5 on Wednesday night, both teams probably feel like they could have a 3-1 lead.

Cleveland has dominated the first half in each of the past three games, but let a 17-point halftime lead slip away in Game 3 in Indianapolis on Friday.

The Pacers, on the other hand, had a golden chance to follow up with another come-from-behind victory on Sunday night, taking the lead on three occasions in the fourth quarter only to watch the Cavaliers get hot down the stretch and hand Indiana a 104-100 defeat.

And so, Indiana heads back to Cleveland knowing it needs to win at least one more game at Quicken Loans Arena to end LeBron James and the Cavs' three-year reign as Eastern Conference champions.

For that to happen, the Pacers will need better production from All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, who struggled with his shot in the two games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse over the weekend. Oladipo went just 10-for-35 from the field and 4-for-16 from 3-point range in Games 3 and 4, including a dismal second half on Sunday, when he made just 2-of-13 shots down the stretch.

In his postgame press conference, Oladipo downplayed his struggles and promised to "learn from it" and be "better next game." The Pacers did get strong performances from other players in Game 4 (particularly their centers Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis), but they will need an improved showing from Oladipo on Wednesday on the road.

That is particularly true if the Cavaliers get another strong showing from their supporting cast. James is going to get his, just like he did on Sunday, racking up 32 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.

But beyond James and fellow All-Star Kevin Love, the Cavs have gotten inconsistent production from the rest of their roster this season. That was not the case in Game 5, as Cleveland's role players went 12-for-26 from 3-point range (James and Love, meanwhile, were a combined 0-for-8 from beyond the arc). Kyle Korver and JR Smith each made four threes to help spark the Cavs' offense.

April 22, 2018: The Pacers mounted another impressive comeback from an early double-digit deficit, but faltered down the stretch in a 104-100 loss to the Cavaliers in Game 4 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Cleveland led by as many as 16 points in the first half, but the Blue & Gold stormed back and actually held a narrow lead with four minutes to play. But the Cavs scored on four straight possessions down the stretch — alternating between Kyle Korver 3-pointers and LeBron James driving layups — to come away with the win.

"They made more plays than us," explained Darren Collison after the game. "Korver had some big shots down the stretch. We kind of settled, didn't get the looks that we wanted in the last couple of minutes."

Domantas Sabonis had a playoff career-high 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting off the bench for Indiana, while Myles Turner added 17 points and Thaddeus Young (12 points and 16 rebounds) recorded a double-double.

James led all scorers with 32 points to go along with 13 rebounds and seven assists. Korver added 18 points, going 4-for-9 from 3-point range and 6-for-7 from the free throw line.

The Pacers and Cavaliers will return to Indianapolis for Game 6 on Friday, April 27 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The start time for Game 6 is still TBD. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
TNT - Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Brent Barry (analyst), Allie LaForce (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

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Game Preview: Pacers at Cavaliers (Game 5)

Please Note: Doors for Sunday's game will open at 7:00 PM ET.

That was the Cavaliers' record when taking a lead into the fourth quarter this season.

But after a 17-point come-from-behind #PacersWin on Friday night, that number moved to 40-1, and the Pacers' record in their first-round series with the Cavs opened up to a 2-1 advantage.

Had it not been for the contributions of Bojan Bogdanovic, the Pacers would have shot just 1-of-17 from 3-point range on the night. But the sharpshooting Bogdanovic ended up carrying the Pacers, scoring a game-best 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting, connecting on seven 3-point shots.

The seven makes tied the franchise record for 3-pointers in a postseason game, where Bogdanovic joins Chuck Person, Reggie Miller (twice), and Paul George.

Now the Pacers will attempt to put the Cavaliers on thin ice, seeking to win a critical Game 4 on Sunday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 8:30 PM ET.

In LeBron James' playoff career, this is the first time his team has ever trailed 2-1 in the opening round of the postseason. With Indiana's win on Friday, the Pacers became just the second team in James' career to win two games in the first round against him.

"It’s the postseason. Every game is a must win," explained James at his postgame presser. "You want to come in and play well and win no matter what. No matter if you have homecourt advantage or if you’re starting on the road, that’s the mindset you have to have. I felt like today was a must win. We didn’t win, obviously, but it’s the same mindset on Sunday."

During Sunday's game, the Pacers will look to get Oladipo back on track. The All-Star guard struggled to connect from deep, making just 1-of-8 attempts from long range, but still managed to pass out a team-best seven assists in the win.

After scoring five points in the first half and the team's offense growing stagnant with Cleveland attacking Oladipo with double teams, Indiana came out in the second half with a different approach to the defensive pressure.

"We basically made some adjustments to open up the floor and give (Oladipo) the opportunity to attack," said Pacers head coach Nate McMillan. "And he made some good reads."

On defense, the Pacers will take the floor on Sunday aiming to replicate their high-intensity second half in which they held the Cavs to just 33 points over the final 24 minutes of play.

"We’ve been doing it all year," said Oladipo of the 17-point comeback. "I know that sounds a little redundant, but it’s true. We’ve been resilient all year. It was a great win. We made an adjustment in the second half and it helped us out. It’s just one game, so I’m looking forward to Sunday night."

Pacers: PG - Darren Collison, SG - Victor Oladipo, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerCavaliers: PG - George Hill, SG - J.R. Smith, SF - Kyle Korver, PF - LeBron James, C - Kevin Love

April 20, 2018: After trailing by 17 points at the half, the Pacers used a bruising second half to push past the Cavaliers, taking Game 3 92-90.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 30 points, going 7-for-9 from 3-point range, leading Indiana back from a 17-point halftime deficit in a 92-90 win over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I've been scoring all my life," Bogdanovic said. "I kind of changed my role here. When I see that shots are going in, that gives me extra energy."

After a disappointing first half marred by 10 turnovers, the Pacers slowly chipped away at Cleveland's lead over the final two quarters, eventually taking the lead a few minutes later in emphatic fashion.

LeBron James had an impressive night offensively, scoring 28 points and picking up 12 rebounds and eight assists.

But the night belonged to Bogdanovic, whose 30 points were a playoff career high.

The Pacers aim to take Game 4 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse before the series returns to Cleveland for Game 5. The action tips off on Sunday, April 22, at 8:30 PM ET Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
TNT -  Marv Albert (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Allie LaForce(sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

My City, Our House Playoff T-Shirt - $18. The Game Night Special can be purchased at the Pacers Team Store on game day, as well as online from 10:00 AM-Midnight. Order Online »

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Cavaliers (Game 4)

Indianapolis may be Victor Oladipo's city, but on Friday night, it belonged to Bojan Bogdanovic.

The Croatian sensation scored 30 points, going 7-for-9 from 3-point range, leading Indiana back from a 17-point halftime deficit in a 92-90 win over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Indiana now has a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series and retains homecourt advantage, with Game 4 set for Sunday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

With 6:10 remaining, Oladipo dished to Bogdanovic on the left wing, who buried a three even as Kyle Korver flew into him. The Croatian calmly knocked down the ensuing free throw to give Indiana an 81-77 lead.

Then after a George Hill turnover, Bogdanovic buried another three from the left corner, sending the sellout crowd into hysterics and forcing a Cavaliers timeout.

"The place just erupted," Pacers center Myles Turner said. "We were going crazy on the sidelines.

"It's something that I was expecting and it exceeded my expectations. I've been here three years. This was probably the most fun game I've been a part of."

Bogdanovic picked up his fifth foul on the next possession, however, and James subsequently buried two 3-pointers of his own to trim Indiana's lead to 84-83 with 3:41 to play.

A James free throw tied the game with 3:25 remaining, but Bogdanovic scored on a drive to give Indiana the lead back, then added a long distance 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to push Indiana's lead back to five with 2:26 remaining.

The Pacers eventually extended their lead to seven, but threes by James and Kevin Love made it a one-point game with 7.6 seconds remaining.

The Cavaliers fouled Darren Collison, who hit one of two free throws with five seconds left on the clock. He missed the second, but Cleveland was out of timeouts and could only manage a J.R. Smith three from near midcourt that came up well short.

The star of the night was Bogdanovic, who scored more points and made more 3-pointers than he did in any game during the regular season. His seven threes actually tied the franchise record for a playoff game, a distinction he now shares with Chuck Person, Reggie Miller (who did it twice), and Paul George.

And he did it all while also guarding James, a four-time MVP, for much of the night.

"He did an incredible job for us on both ends of the floor," Oladipo said. "When he's playing like that, it opens it up for everybody."

Unlike the start of the first two games in the series, which each saw one team sprint out to a double-digit lead, the opening minutes of Game 3 were evenly matched. Collison's layup with 5:55 left in the first quarter tied the score at 15.

That's when the Cavaliers made their run, outscoring Indiana 15-2 over a four-minute stretch, the first major surge by either team all night. Turnovers were a major problem for the Pacers in the first quarter, as they coughed the ball up seven times in the frame to fall into a 31-20 hole.

Indiana cut into that deficit thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers by Bogdanovic and Stephenson to open the second quarter. But the Cavs — playing a lineup featuring Love and four reserves for the first half of the second quarter — quickly righted the ship and pushed Cleveland's lead back to double digits.

James checked back in with 6:10 left in the quarter and knocked down a 3-pointer six seconds later to extend the visitors' advantage to 13 points. The Cavs continued to build their lead over the closing minutes of the half, taking a 57-40 advantage into the break.

"We were hesitating," Stephenson said about Indiana's offensive struggles in the first half. "We weren't in attack mode.

"In the second half, we were in attack mode, playing aggressive, and hitting the right spots."

The Blue & Gold came out with a noticeable fire to start the second half, particularly on the defensive end. Indiana opened the third quarter with a 13-4 run, slowly chipping away at the Cavaliers' lead.

The Pacers wound up holding Cleveland to just 12 points in the third quarter on 5-of-19 shooting and also forced seven turnovers. As a result, the hosts only trailed 69-63 heading into the fourth.

Indiana continued its slow charge in the final frame, eventually tying the game at 75 on a pair of free throws by Oladipo with 8:38 remaining, setting the stage for Bogdanovic's heroics.

The second half was yet another example of resiliency from a team that has built its brand around the concept.

"There's been a lot of fight in these guys all season long," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said. "We've been in that situation at half where we’ve been down or we haven't played our best basketball and they come out and just continue to fight, continue to scrap.

"They stay together and they pulled through another big win as they did tonight."

Oladipo had 18 points, six rebounds, and seven assists for Indiana, while Thaddeus Young added 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals.

The Cavaliers wore matching suits as they arrived at The Fieldhouse on Friday night and seemed intent on making a statement they were more than a one-man team after James' 46-point performance in their win in Game 2.

Still, it was James who took the bulk of their shots in crunch time and finished with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.

He did get more help, as Love scored 19 points and Hill added 13, but it wasn't enough to beat the Pacers on their home floor.

Game 4 will take place on Sunday night at 8:30 PM ET. It will air nationally on TNT and locally on FOX Sports Indiana.

Bogdanovic's season highs were 29 points (which he did twice) and six 3-pointers (which he did three times). He bested both marks on Friday.

Bogdanovic had struggled in the first two games of the series, averaging 11.5 points while only going 8-for-23 from the field and 2-for-9 from 3-point range.

Turnovers ultimately were an issue for both teams. The Pacers had 20, while the Cavs had 17. Indiana actually outscored Cleveland 24-19 in points off turnovers.

Oladipo overcame a rough night offensively, as he went just 1-for-8 from 3-point range and had five turnovers.

The Pacers got solid contributions off the bench from Stephenson (eight points and five rebounds), Domantas Sabonis (seven points), and Cory Joseph (six points and four assists).

Entering Friday, the Cavaliers were 40-0 on the season when leading after three quarters, having won 39 regular season games and Game 2 on Wednesday.

"Everybody thought before this season that I can not play defense. I don't say that I am playing defense, but I am working hard at trying to make it tough for each offensive player that I am guarding." -Bogdanovic

"You're taking a pounding if you're on the defensive end of the floor if you're guarding LeBron. But offensively he found some energy. He got some good looks and he knocked them down." -McMillan on Bogdanovic

"When we get the crowd going they start panicking and they start getting nervous. The crowd plays a big part of our wins. For the most part we played together and made big plays in that stretch part of the game." -Stephenson

"I just thought that their physicality, denying the basketball, getting into us when we catch the ball, we were back on our heels. The pressure, I thought it just hurt us tonight. 10 turnovers in the second half that cost us, too." -Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue on the difference in the second half

"It's the postseason. Every game is a must win. You want to come in and play well and win no matter what. No matter if you have homecourt advantage or if you’re starting on the road, that's the mindset you have to have." -James

Bogdanovic's 3-point shooting bailed out the Pacers on Friday night. While he made 7-of-9 shots from beyond the arc, the rest of his teammates went just 1-for-17.

The Pacers will host the Cavs for Game 4 of their best-of-seven series on Sunday, April 22 at 8:30 PM ET. Find Tickets »

Pacers Playoff New Era Hat - $16. The Game Night Special can be purchased at the Pacers Team Store on game day, as well as online from 10:00 AM-Midnight. Order Online »

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Game Rewind: Pacers 92, Cavaliers 90 (Game 3)

Please Note: Doors for tonight's game will open at 5:30 PM ET

After splitting a pair of games in Cleveland, the Pacers head back to Indiana brimming with confidence that they can win their best-of-seven first-round series against the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers.

Yes, the Blue & Gold dropped Game 2 on Wednesday night, but their 100-97 loss offered plenty of more evidence that Indiana has what it takes to hang with the Cavs.

After pummeling Cleveland by 18 points in Game 1, the Pacers witnessed firsthand the greatness of LeBron James in Game 2. The four-time MVP added to his lore with another legendary performance on Wednesday. He scored the first 13 points of the game, helped the Cavs out to an 18-point lead, and finished with a jaw-dropping stat line: 46 points on 17-of-24 shooting, 12 rebounds, and five assists.

And yet, the Pacers weathered the tempest that was James and fought their way back. Somehow, someway, All-Star guard Victor Oladipo had an open look from beyond the 3-point arc to tie the game in the final minute, but couldn't convert.

To be that close on the road despite James' brilliance and Cleveland's desperation? That has to be encouraging for the Pacers, who now get to play the next two games in front of a boisterous, partisan crowd at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Still, there are adjustments to be made heading into Game 3. Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue did not disclose his starting lineup until less than 20 minutes before Game 2 and wound up making some rather radical changes.

Lue opted to go small, starting sharpshooters J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver alongside James, George Hill, and Kevin Love, while sending Jeff Green and Rodney Hood to the bench. That lineup created more matchup problems for Indiana, which had to account for both James' ability to attack the rim and four outside shooting threats.

The Pacers got creative in their coverages throughout the game, at one point shifting 6-11 center Myles Turner onto the 6-6 Smith, and likely will have more ideas after a couple days' worth of watching film. On the other end, the Blue & Gold have to exploit their size advantage when the Cavs opt to go small, either by posting Turner up on Love and or using him in the pick-and-roll, an area where Turner excels and Love struggles.

"We're looking forward to Friday night," Oladipo said about the challenge ahead. "It's going to be another battle, but we're going to be ready for it."

Pacers: Joe Young - out (sinus infection)

April 18, 2018: The Cavaliers never trailed in a 100-97 victory in Game 2 at Quicken Loans Arena, but the Pacers kept it interesting up until the final minute.

Behind a stunning start from LeBron James, Cleveland raced out to a 26-8 lead before the Pacers slowly clawed back.

"They basically hit us in the mouth," Pacers head coach Nate McMillan said. "But we (were) able to calm down and get ourselves back in the game."

Victor Oladipo played just 8:15 in the first half due to foul trouble, but still finished with a team-high 22 points and six assists. Myles Turner added 18 points and Darren Collison scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.

James' 46 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists led the way for the Cavs. Kevin Love added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Kyle Korver scored 12 points, going 4-for-8 from 3-point range.

The Pacers return home to Bankers Life Fieldhouse to host the Cavaliers in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series on Friday, April 20 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
ESPN -  Mike Breen (play-by-play), Jeff Van Gundy (analyst), Mark Jackson (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Slick Leonard (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)

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Game Preview: Pacers vs Cavaliers (Game 3)

That's the message that head coach Nate McMillan and seemingly every player in the locker room shared following Indiana's impressive 98-80 Game 1 win over LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon.

But despite their insistence that it was just another game, it's worth pausing on what Indiana was able to accomplish with its wire-to-wire victory over Cleveland.

The Pacers held the Cavaliers to just 80 points, the fewest Indiana has held an opponent to all year. The win also snapped LeBron James' streak of 21 straight first-round playoff victories, dating back to 2012.

Victor Oladipo, Indiana's catalyst on offense all season, once again lit up the box score, notching a game-best 32 points, more than doubling his playoff career-high (15 points) in the process.

The series-opening game — in which the Pacers led by as much as 23 points — set the tone for the first-round matchup, which will continue on Wednesday night at 7 PM ET.

Having already taken a 1-0 lead, the Pacers will try to complete another feat that's never been accomplished against a LeBron-led team in the first round: win back-to-back games.

During Game 1, Indiana deployed Myles Turner on Cleveland's power forward Jeff Green, while using Thaddeus Young to keep track of Kevin Love. The plan worked well for Indiana as Green was unable to make a shot on Sunday, going 0-for-7 from the field.

Not only was Turner able to contain Green on defense, but the third-year forward also posted an impressive night on offense, scoring 16 points and snaring eight rebounds.

With two full days between games, all eyes will be focused on whether Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue elects to shuffle the starting lineup for Game 2.

Any changes made by Cleveland will likely be made with the goal of finding an offensive spark, which was missing during Game 1. As a team, Cleveland shot just 38.5 percent, making 8-of-35 3-point attempts as the Pacers swarmed the Cavaliers' ball handlers.

"I thought our guys did a good job of not giving up anything easy," said Nate McMillan after the game. "We did a good job executing offense and didn’t allow them to get in transition, which allows the crowd to get in the game. Just defensively, we were connected in trying to keep them in front and not giving them anything as far as attacking the basket, collapsing defense which will give them open threes. So just solid effort. We wanted to establish pace, control tempo. I thought we did that throughout the game."

Pacers: PG - Darren Collison, SG - Victor Oladipo, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerCavaliers: PG - George Hill, SG - Rodney Hood, SF - LeBron James, PF - Jeff Green, C - Kevin Love

April 15, 2018: Indiana opened up its first-round series with a dominant 98-80 victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Pacers were led by a masterful performance from Victor Oladipo, who poured in a game-best 32 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Defensively, Indiana was able to stifle the Cavs, holding them to just 80 points — the fewest the Pacers have held an opponent in any game this season.

For Cleveland, James was his normal playoff-self, racking up a triple-double. But as a team, the Cavs made just 8-of-34 shots from long range and shot 38.5 percent from the field.

Aside from Oladipo, the Pacers were aided by key performances from Myles Turner (16 points, eight rebounds) and Bojan Bogdanovic (15 points, six rebounds).

The win marked the first time a LeBron James team has ever dropped Game 1 of a first-round series and snapped a streak of 21 consecutive first-round victories for James.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter)
TNT -  Marv Albert (play-by-play), Chris Webber (analyst), Allie LaForce (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)

game-preview-pacers-at-cavaliers-game-2

Game Preview: Pacers at Cavaliers (Game 2)

So much about this Pacers season has been different — from the players on the roster to their chemistry off the court to the general level of excitement surrounding a team that vastly exceeded expectations. Yet here the Pacers are, back in the playoffs facing off against a familiar nemesis.

Not only is this year's best-of-seven first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers a rematch of last year's first round (when the Cavaliers swept Indiana, albeit by just 16 total points), but it is the fifth time in the last seven seasons that the Pacers will face off against a LeBron James team in the postseason (Indiana lost to James and the Miami Heat in the second round in 2012 and in the Eastern Conference Finals in both 2013 and 2014).

James' record speaks for itself. He has led his teams to seven straight NBA Finals, a feat unprecedented in the modern era. His teams have won 21 straight first-round games, a streak so long you have to go back to 2012 to find the last time James lost a single game in the first round. He has never lost a first-round series in his career.

This season has arguably been the most impressive yet for the four-time MVP. James played in all 82 games at age 33 and led the league in minutes while averaging 27.5 points (third in the NBA), 8.6 rebounds (15th), and 9.1 assists per game (2nd).

And yet, the Pacers enter this series quietly confident. Indiana took three of four games from the Cavs during the regular season and has been defying expectations all season long.

"We've been doubted before," Pacers point guard Darren Collison said. "We've been doubted all season long as individuals, so it's nothing new for us."

Beyond James' brilliance, this Cleveland team has visible flaws, particularly on the defensive end, where they finished the season second-to-last (ahead of only a tanking Suns team) in defensive rating. The Cavs have had so many issues that they completely overhauled their rotation at the trade deadline, sending away six players and bringing in four new faces.

"At the end of the day, we've just got to go out there and play at a high level," Pacers All-Star guard Victor Oladipo said. "It's not going to be easy, but it ain't been easy all year for us.

"We've got to go out there with that mentality and try to win it. That's what we're trying to do. We're trying to go make it close and have fun, we're trying to win."

Pacers: PG - Darren Collison, SG - Victor Oladipo, SF - Bojan Bogdanovic, PF - Thaddeus Young, C - Myles TurnerHornets: PG - George Hill, SG - Rodney Hood, SF - LeBron James, PF - Jeff Green, C - Kevin Love

January 26, 2018: The Cavaliers avoided being swept by the Pacers in the regular season with a 115-108 win in Cleveland. The Cavs never trailed and took a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter, but the Pacers mounted an admirable charge, cutting their deficit to five points with 1:44 remaining, only to go scoreless the rest of the way.

Victor Oladipo led Indiana with 25 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in the loss. Darren Collison added 19 points and seven assists, while Domantas Sabonis collected a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

LeBron James recorded a triple-double for the Cavs, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists (but also 11 turnovers). J.R. Smith added 23 points, going 7-for-13 from 3-point range.

TV: ABC - Mike Breen (play-by-play), Jeff Van Gundy (analyst), Mark Jackson (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)
FOX Sports Indiana - "Pacers Live" Postgame Show (following conclusion of the game) featuring Jeremiah Johnson and Eddie Gill reporting from Cleveland and Chris Denari and Quinn Buckner in studio in Indianapolis
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)Please Note: Inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Pacers radio broadcasts can be heard on 1080 AM instead of 1070.

2017‑18 Game Preview