If you’re Kyrie Irving, it’s better to get this one out of the way early.
With 4.4 seconds to play in regulation and the game tied at 84-apiece, the Cavaliers precocious point guard used an Anderson Varejao screen, split Roy Hibbert and Paul George, and cut through the paint with time expiring. He laid the potential game-winner on the iron with his left hand, but it bounced around the rim and out at the buzzer.
The crowd at Bankers Life Fieldhouse exhaled and the two clubs went to an extra session. In OT, Danny Granger gave the Pacers an early lead, but Anthony Parker’s three-pointer swung the edge back to Cleveland. David West struck back, though, followed by a pair of buckets by Granger – who notched nine points in overtime to ensure Indiana the 98-91 win.
Irving led five Cavaliers in double-figures with 20 points, going 8-for-19 from the floor, adding five boards, four assists, a steal and a blocked shot. He was the driving engine behind the Wine and Gold’s valiant effort on Friday night.
“I got a great look at it,” said Irving. “I just wish it would have went down, but it didn’t. My teammates fought hard; we left it all on the floor out there. Now we have to go back to Cleveland and watch film on this game and try to get better from it.”
The matchup – easily the most entertaining of this young season – was a see-saw affair in the second half.
After leading through the entire first stanza, the Pacers opened the second half strong and, by the end of the third, had extended their lead to nine – 70-61.
But the Cavaliers would not go away.
Trailing 75-64 with just over ten minutes to play, Cleveland went on a 16-5 run to tie the score at 80-80 with just over two minutes to play. The two clubs traded free throws before Irving’s near miss at the end of regulation.
Anderson Varejao had his best game of the young season – doubling up with 14 points and 13 boards. Anthony Parker and Antawn Jamison added a dozen points apiece and Alonzo Gee came off the bench to add 10 points, five boards and four helpers.
The Cavaliers return home to face the Nets on New Year’s Day at The Q – their second-last home game before departing on a seven-game, 13-day road trip.