Game Preview: Pacers at Cavaliers

With the All-Star break just two games away, the Pacers are eager to close out their schedule before the rest on a high note, but the schedule won't make it easy.

Indiana (29-26) — which has lost four straight games on the heels of a seven-game winning streak — has arguably its toughest back-to-back of the season, facing the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers (38-16) on Wednesday night in Ohio, then returning to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday for a meeting with the red-hot Washington Wizards.

Both of the teams have dealt Indiana a loss during its recent four-game skid, leaving the Pacers hungry to return the favor in their last two games before Paul George, Myles Turner, and Glenn Robinson III head to New Orleans for the All-Star Game festivities.

In their meeting with the Cavaliers seven days prior to Wednesday's game, the Pacers got an encouraging performance in the first half, but came unglued down the stretch as Cleveland scorched the earth from beyond the 3-point arc, leading to a walloping 40-18 third quarter.

"They're a tough team to guard," said Jeff Teague after the game. "They have a lot of shooters on the floor at all spots … One through five can shoot the ball really well. They spread us out and drove us."

On Monday against the Spurs, like their game against the Cavaliers, the Pacers hung tough through much of the game.

Indiana was leading San Antonio by as much as four in the fourth quarter, until the Spurs took a 98-97 lead on a Kawhi Leonard jump shot with 3:38 left in the game.

"They won the 50-50 balls and hustle plays," Pacers center Myles Turner said after the loss. "That's been a problem for us the last couple games. Some of it's awareness, some of it's IQ, some of it's just getting down and doing the dirty work. That's what we need to start doing."

But with Thaddeus Young (sprained left wrist) and Lavoy Allen (sore right knee) sidelined during Monday's game, the Pacers were without two of their top dirty work players. Both Young and Allen's statuses are uncertain for Wednesday's game, but it's beginning to look like Young might not be back in uniform until after the All-Star break.

With Young sidelined for the last six games, the Pacers have got 2-4 in his absence, missing his reliable 3-point shooting (39 percent on the season) and rebounding presence inside (6.1 per game).

Jeff Teague

Paul George

C.J. Miles

Lavoy Allen

Myles Turner

Kyrie Irving

DeAndre Liggins

LeBron James

Channing Frye

Tristan Thompson

Pacers: PG - Jeff Teague, SG - Paul George, SF - C.J. Miles, PF - Lavoy Allen, C - Myles Turner
Cavaliers: PG - Kyrie Irving, SG - DeAndre Liggins, SF - LeBron James, PF - Channing Frye, C - Tristan Thompson

Pacers: Thaddeus Young - out (sprained left wrist), Lavoy Allen - questionable (sore right knee)

Cavaliers: J.R. Smith - out (right thumb fracture), Kevin Love - out (left knee effusion), Iman Shumpert - questionable (left ankle sprain)

February 8, 2016: The Pacers were unable to extend their winning streak to eight games after the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers used a powerful second half to grab a 132-117 victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The Pacers controlled the game early, jumping out to a 15-point lead over the Cavaliers in the first half. But in the waning moments of the second quarter, the Cavs began to grind at the lead, eventually getting it down to a 63-57 Pacers lead at the break.

In the second half, the Pacers were undone by the ethereal shooting of Kyle Korver, who finished the night with 29 points, including going 8-of-9 from 3-point range.

The bevy of Cavs 3-pointers led to a third quarter in which the Cavaliers outscored the Pacers 40-18, going on to win comfortably from there.

"It's one game," Paul George said after the loss. "We look past this. We played a really good team tonight. We know what beat us and we know the reason why we lost tonight."

After a tough test against the defending champs on Wednesday, the Pacers return to The Fieldhouse Thursday, February 16th, for their final game before the All-Star Break, matching up against John Wall and the Washington Wizards. Tipoff is set for 7 PM ET. Find Tickets »

TV: FOX Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
ESPN - Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Bill Walton (analyst), Dick Vitale (analyst), Lisa Salters (sideline reporter)
Radio: 93.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)

State Hat - $12. Game Night Specials can be purchased online the day of each away game from 10:00 AM - Midnight. Order Online »