Early in the first quarter of the Cavaliers’ Sunday afternoon matinee against the visiting Pacers, LeBron James threw a nifty, one-handed skip-pass to Richard Jefferson for a wide-open three.
Cleveland was eventually able to eek out a gritty 101-97 win against Indiana in a game that featured 21 lead changes and 15 ties. It marked the first time in 17 months that Paul George – who missed most of last season with that unmentionable leg injury – had a marquee matchup with his arch-rival James. And the two close friends didn’t disappoint.
LeBron led the Cavs with 29 points on 10-of-23 shooting and added six rebounds and four assists, while George continued his emphatic return to All-Star form with 32 points on 11-of-21 from the field, including 3-of-6 from downtown. But the game wasn’t just about that head-to-head showdown. Kevin Love continued his resurgence with very Timberwolves-like numbers: 22 points on 50 percent shooting to go along with 19 rebounds. He also showed a new sense of urgency on the defensive end with three big blocks and was a game-high plus-14 for the day.
Tristan Thompson had a solid outing as well, chipping in 16 points, eight rebounds and a pair of steals on a near-perfect 7-of-8 shooting from the field. The Pacers, likewise, got a big contribution from Monta Ellis, who was a surprisingly efficient 10-of-17 from the floor and 2-of-4 from long-range. He added five rebounds and three assists.
The Cavs – on a six-game win streak after dropping their season opener – continue to find ways to win, despite being undermanned, as they were without J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Kyrie Irving, who are all recovering from injuries. Next up, they’ll host the Lakers on Tuesday, while Indiana will play the second game of their back-to-back at home on Monday against the Orlando Magic.
