Pacers-Cavaliers Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Apr 11 2012 12:03AM

Though the Indiana Pacers are firmly entrenched in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, they will not look ahead to the postseason.

The Pacers hope to continue their April success by trying for a third consecutive road victory Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Indiana (35-22) concluded March by losing two of three, but won four in a row to begin April and five of the last six. Winners in 10 of 14 overall, the Pacers are third in the Eastern Conference and focused solely on the matter at hand.

"We cannot take none of the games for granted," Indianapolis native George Hill said. "Third place through eighth place is so close, so every game has meaning."

Indiana maintained that approach Monday when it shot 50.7 percent in a 103-98 win over Toronto. Hill and Danny Granger each scored 18 points as the Pacers bounced back from an 86-72 home defeat to Boston two nights earlier.

Averaging 23.3 points on 52.3 percent shooting in the last eight games, Granger continues to pace the Pacers. However, the play of Hill in place of injured guard Darren Collison (groin) was likely more beneficial as Indiana looks to find other contributors aside from Granger and All-Star center Roy Hibbert.

"It's fun, you get to go out there and show what you can do as a starter," said Hill, who is averaging 8.9 points but coming off his first start of the season. "Have fun out there with the first unit, which I never have got a chance to play with."

Ankle injuries kept both Hill and Granger out when the Pacers' six-game winning streak versus Cleveland was snapped with a 98-87 road loss Feb. 15. The pair did combine for 37 points during Indiana's 98-91 overtime home win against the Cavaliers on Dec. 30.

Granger has averaged 28.2 points in his last six games versus Cleveland.

While the Pacers are hoping to maintain their position in the conference standings the Cavaliers (19-36) are set to miss the playoffs for the second straight season but have shown improvement from the 19-63 performance of 2010-11.

Reserve Lester Hudson had 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Cleveland matched its win total from last season with a 103-90 home win over Charlotte on Tuesday.

The Cavaliers have won two of three since a season-high nine-game losing streak that all but ended their hopes of reaching the playoffs. Prior to Tuesday's win, Cleveland had dropped its last two at Quicken Loans Arena by a combined 72 points - the first team in NBA history to lose back-to-back games at home by more than 36 points.

One bright spot of late has been Hudson.

The third-year guard is with his fourth team playing on a second 10-day contract and averaging 24.7 points in the last three games while star rookie Kyrie Irving remains out because of a shoulder injury.

"It's like I'm dreaming," said Hudson, who played in China during the lockout and for the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental League before getting his shot with the Cavaliers. "I want to kept it going and never let up on working hard every day."

Cleveland last won consecutive games during a three-game run March 7-11.

Pacers outlast Cavs 104-98 in OT

By TOM WITHERS
Posted Apr 12 2012 1:52AM

CLEVELAND (AP) One of Indiana's players wrestled Cleveland's furry mascot before the game. The Pacers then had to fight off the spunky Cavaliers.

Danny Granger made a 3-pointer in overtime and scored 23 points, and George Hill made a dagger 3-pointer in the extra session, lifting Indiana to a 104-98 victory on Wednesday night and allowing the Pacers to hold onto the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference for one more day.

David West added 19 points, Hill had 17 and Roy Hibbert finished with 11 rebounds, five assists and four blocks for Indiana, 6-1 in its last seven. The Pacers outscored the Cavs 10-4 in OT and stayed just ahead of Boston, Atlanta and Orlando in the standings.

This was a dogfight - playfully and literally.

During pregame introductions, West got into a mock fight with Moondog, the Cavs' floppy-eared mascot, who often interacts and teases opposing players. West accidentally struck the character in the mask, sending him to the hospital with an eye injury.

"I feel terrible about that, I really do," said West, who was visibly upset. "We were just having fun. We were just messing around. I really hope he's OK. Make sure he knows I'm sorry."

A Cavs spokesman said the mascot was checked out and released.

Hibbert thought Moondog was joking when he went down holding the head of his costume.

"For real?" Hibbert said. "We thought he (Moondog) was just playing when it happened. Oh man, that's crazy. I can't believe it happened. I've never heard anything like that in the NBA."

Antawn Jamison scored 21 and Lester Hudson 19 for the Cavs, who dropped to a league-worst 0-5 in overtime games. The Cavs, who were just 2 of 9 in the extra five minutes, were officially eliminated from the playoffs.

"We fought hard," Hudson said. "We played very hard, but we just came up a little short."

The Pacers should have put the Cavs away in regulation but Hill, starting in place of the injured Darren Collison, missed three free throws in the last 21 seconds.

West opened overtime with a bucket for the Pacers, who went without a field goal for a 6:41 stretch of the fourth that allowed the Cavs to overcome a 10-point deficit and open a seven-point lead.

Granger then nailed a 3-pointer, and after Hudson scored for Cleveland, Indiana's leading scorer made an 18-foot jumper to put the Pacers ahead 101-96. After Jamison misfired, Hill put the Cavs away with his 3, making it 104-96 with 53 seconds left.

It was some vindication for Hill, whose three missed free throws gave the Cavs late life and they tied it when Hudson, the D-League castoff who came in averaging 24.7 points in his past three games, dropped a sweet floater in the lane over West with 1.2 seconds to go.

The Pacers had one last chance in regulation, and Hibbert nearly made an impossible shot, arching an attempt from behind the backboard that bounced off the front of the rim.

Indiana finally took care of business in overtime.

"We knew we were in a tough fight tonight," West said. "We're playing for home-court advantage, so there is no room for any slippage on our part."

Indiana improved to 17-14 on the road, the club's first winning record outside Indiana in eight years.

Cleveland played its fifth straight game without rookie Kyrie Irving, who has a sprained right shoulder.

The Cavs were down 78-68 after Dahntay Jones dropped a 3-pointer for Indiana.

But Hudson heated up and the Cavs responded with an 18-1 run, taking an 86-79 lead on Omri Casspi's 3-pointer from the left wing. Hudson scored six points during the improbable run, which the Pacers helped by making four turnovers and missing four shots.

Indiana ended up going nearly seven minutes between field goals, with Hill's 3-pointer with 4:19 pulling the Pacers within 88-85.

Hill then converted on two drives and after Hibbert dunked, the Pacers appeared on their way to a win, leading 93-89 with 30 seconds left.

Hill, though, failed to put the game away at the line and the Pacers had to work an extra five minutes to hold onto their playoff seed.

"George Hill made some huge plays," said coach Frank Vogel. "He's down on himself right now for missing those three free throws, but I told him he was the reason why we got the lead back. He was able to turn the corner and make some plays for us."

Notes: Hill was getting treatment after the game and not available. ... Collison was inactive, but sat on the bench in warmups because he forgot to bring a sport coat on the overnight trip. The league requires any players not dressing to wear a suit jacket. ... Irving worked out with a trainer on the floor before the game, and coach Byron Scott ruled his young star out through Friday's game at Indiana. There's still a possibility the Cavs will shut down Irving, a virtual lock to be named the NBA's Rookie of the Year, the remainder of the season. ... Cavs C Anderson Varejao also remains sidelined after breaking his wrist on Feb. 10. There's also no clarity on when - or if - he'll be back. ... Cavs backup C Semih Erden left on crutches after rolling his ankle in the first half. X-rays were negative.

Notebook: Pacers 104, Cavaliers 98

Posted Thursday April 12, 2012 12:45AM

By Brian Dulik, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Small forward Danny Granger scored five of his game-high 23 points in overtime, powering the Indiana Pacers to a 104-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Power forward David West added 19 points, while center Roy Hibbert collected 11 points, a game-best 11 rebounds and five assists for Indiana. With the road win, the Pacers maintained their hold on third place in the Eastern Conference standings. Cavaliers power forward Antawn Jamison had 21 points and eight boards, while shooting guard Lester Hudson scored 19 points and forced OT by making a floater over West with 1.2 seconds left in regulation.

QUOTABLE: "We know we were in a tough fight tonight. We're playing for home-court advantage in the playoffs, so there is no room for any slippage on our part. (Cleveland) is playing really hard and had us on their heels."
-- Pacers power forward David West

THE STAT: The Pacers clinched their first winning road record in eight years and improved to 17-14 away from Bankers Life Fieldhouse this season. This marks just the fourth time Indiana has posted a winning road mark since joining the NBA in 1976-1977. "We set a goal for the season to be above .500 on the road -- and we accomplished that," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "Now, it's on to the next goal." Indiana is one of four East teams with winning records away from home, along with conference-leading Chicago, Miami and Orlando. The only West squads in that club are San Antonio and Oklahoma City.

TURNING POINT: The Pacers held the Cavaliers scoreless for the first 3:02 of OT, allowing them to build a 99-94 lead on a jumper by West and a 3-pointer by Granger. Hudson finally put Cleveland on the board with 1:57 left on a short jumper, but Granger answered with a perimeter deuce, then assisted on point guard George Hill's 3-pointer that gave Indiana an insurmountable 104-96 lead. "Before overtime, Coach (Vogel) said to win the tip and (score) the first basket," Hibbert said. "We paid attention to every shot and every rebound, and tried to limit them to one shot."

QUOTABLE II: "I told my coaches at the two-minute mark of overtime, 'I think we just ran out of gas.' That's no excuse. I just looked at my guys, and thought we ran out of gas. We just didn't have anything left in the tank."
-- Cavaliers coach Byron Scott

HOT: West not only took down the Cavaliers, he forced their mascot out of the game while playfully scuffling with him just before the opening tip. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound West accidentally struck Moondog in the face, forcing his costume head into his left eye. The veteran performer left Quicken Loans Arena to receive medical treatment, but did not suffer a serious injury, according to a team spokesman. "I feel terrible about that, I really do," West said. "We were just messing around. Make sure he knows I'm sorry." Hibbert watched the sequence play out near the Pacers' bench, and also couldn't believe what occurred between the furry canine and West. "For real? We thought he was just playing when it happened," Hibbert said. "Oh, man, that's crazy. I've never heard anything like that in the NBA."

NOT: The Cavaliers used an 18-1 run to go in front 86-79 with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter, but were outscored 25-12 the rest of the way. ... Cleveland is 2-11 in its last 13 games, 3-14 in its previous 17 contests, and 6-20 in its last 26 games. ... The Cavaliers are an NBA-worst 0-5 in OT games. ... Hudson missed eight of his nine 3-point attempts and made a game-high six turnovers. ... Pacers power forwards Tyler Hansbrough and Lou Amundson committed nine fouls in 30 minutes while going 2-for-6 from the field. ... Hill missed three straight free throws in the final 22 seconds of regulation, setting the stage for Hudson's game-tying and OT-forcing basket. "George is down on himself right now for missing those free throws, but I told him he was the reason why we got the lead back," Vogel said.

QUOTABLE III: "When they got their (fourth-quarter) lead, they just got too comfortable. They were still playing real hard, but we were a little more aggressive on some of their catches."
-- Pacers center Roy Hibbert

GOOD MOVE: For the second straight game and evening, Scott used an all-reserve lineup to start the fourth quarter. And for the second consecutive contest, small forward Omri Casspi, power forward Luke Walton, and Hudson triggered a huge Cavaliers comeback. They were joined by shooting guard Manny Harris and center Samardo Samuels in outscoring Indiana 20-6 over the first six minutes of the period. "The coaching staff and my teammates all fought hard, but we just came up a little bit short in the end," Samuels said. "Next time, we expect to win."

BAD MOVE: Cavaliers center Semih Erden suffered a severely sprained right ankle early in the second quarter, just one night after playing his way back into the rotation. Erden's ankle gave way as he drove to the basket on a fast break, prompting him to crumble to the court at the feet of Pacers point guard A.J. Price. The native of Turkey was unable to put any weight on his right leg and was helped off the floor by Jamison and injured Cleveland center Anderson Varejao. Initial X-rays were negative, but Erden left the arena on crutches.

NOTABLE: Hill racked up 17 points, three rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots while filling in for injured starter Darren Collison, who is expected to play Friday when Indiana hosts Cleveland. ... Cavaliers point guard Donald Sloan had eight points and six assists without a turnover. ... Samuels scored 13 points in 18 minutes off the bench. ... Scott ruled out point guard Kyrie Irving (right shoulder sprain) and Varejao (right wrist fracture) from playing in Cleveland's next two games, but said "both of them are improving."

UP NEXT: For the Pacers, Friday vs. Cleveland, Saturday @ Milwaukee, Monday vs. Minnesota. For the Cavaliers, Friday @ Indiana, Saturday @ Washington, Sunday vs. Orlando.

• Pacers: Fesenko, Foster
• Cavaliers: Harangody, Varejao

• Pacers: --
• Cavaliers: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 8

• Arena: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• Officials: #57 Greg Willard, #71 Rodney Mott, #72 J.T. Orr
• Attendance: 14307
• Duration: 2:31