Game Preview: Pacers at Cavaliers

For the defending Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers, the first game of the season didn't go as planned, as Cleveland dropped their opener against the Bulls.

But since that game, even without All-Star Kyrie Irving — who still remains sidelined with a fractured kneecap suffered during the NBA Finals — the Cavs have blitzed their opponents, winning five straight games and landing them back atop the Eastern Conference.

It comes as no surprise that LeBron James has been at the center of their success, with wingman Kevin Love looking more and more like the weapon he was during his time in Minnesota. The two are leading the team in scoring, with offseason acquisition Mo Williams close behind.

While Cleveland, like the Pacers' new offense, spreads the floor with shooters, Pacers head coach Frank Vogel was quick to note that they aren't what one would call a "small" lineup, with the 6-foot, 10-inch, Love at power forward.

However, despite Cleveland's hot start, only one of its five wins have come against a team that was in last year's playoffs (Grizzlies). In order to slow down the Cavaliers, the Pacers will need to continue to rebound well, even if facing an opponent with greater size.

Through the first four games of the season the Pacers were outrebounded by their opponents, including a 29 rebound night for Andre Drummond. But since that game against the Pistons — which the Pacers were able to win — Indiana has outrebounded its opponents in two straight, allowing the Pacers to erase their 0-3 start and pull to .500 for the first time since the second game of last season.

No doubt the Cavaliers will be a tough test for the Pacers, especially on the road at the Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday. But after Paul George dropped 36 on Friday night, and Jordan Hill had his second consecutive double-double to help the Pacers clinch their third straight win, it feels like this is a test the Pacers are prepared for.

George Hill

Monta Ellis

Paul George

Lavoy Allen

Ian Mahinmi

Mo Williams

Richard Jefferson

LeBron James

Kevin Love

Timofey Mozgov

Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Lavoy Allen, C - Ian Mahinmi
Cavaliers: PG - Mo Williams, SG - Richard Jefferson, SF - LeBron James, PF - Kevin Love, C - Timofey Mozgov

Pacers: C.J. Miles - out (sore right ankle), Rodney Stuckey - out (sprained ankle)

Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving - out (fractured left knee cap), Iman Shumpert - out (ruptured extensor carpi ulnaris), J.R. Smith - out (right knee contusion, quadriceps tendinitis)

March 20, 2015: The last time these teams met, the Cavaliers escaped with a 95-92 victory over Indiana. George Hill scored a team-high 24 points, including 14 in the third quarter, but LeBron James was, well, LeBron James, scoring 29 points while adding seven rebounds and five assists.

"I thought we made most of his shots really tough shots," Vogel said. "That's all you can ask."

The game could have gone either way, as the score teetered between the teams in the final quarter, changing hands eight times with four ties. It was a tough loss for the Pacers, their fourth straight at the time, after winning seven straight earlier in the month.

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 107.5 FM The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)