Pacers-Cavaliers Preview
Share This Story
The Indiana Pacers turned in their best shooting performance of the season in their last game.
A similar effort could be on tap Friday night when they visit a Cleveland Cavaliers team that has lost five straight and struggled on defense all season.
Indiana (14-12) shot a season-high 51.3 percent Wednesday to cruise to a 104-84 home victory over Utah. The Pacers hadn't topped 50 percent this season.
Gerald Green scored a season-best 21 points and George Hill and Paul George each added 20. George also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
"I think we trusted passing more than we have all season and that's what coach (Frank Vogel) has been preaching all year long," Hill said. "If we can believe in each other, trust in each other, try to create a shot for each other rather than for yourself all the time, we can have great offensive nights like we did tonight."
Finding the range against Cleveland (5-22) should not be difficult. The Cavaliers are last in the NBA in field-goal defense, allowing teams to shoot 47.6 percent.
Cleveland also could be without Anderson Varejao, who is averaging a league-best 14.4 rebounds. Varejao sat out Wednesday's 103-91 loss at Boston with a bruised right knee.
The Cavs allowed the Celtics to shoot 59.7 percent one night after letting lowly Toronto make 52.0 percent of its attempts in a 113-99 defeat.
"We can't go into games just thinking we're going to outscore people," coach Byron Scott said. "We don't have the personnel to do that with right now."
One of Cleveland's best defensive efforts came in a 96-81 loss at Indiana on Dec. 12. The Pacers shot 41.0 percent but prevailed thanks to a stellar second half in which they limited the Cavs to 23 points.
Cleveland star Kyrie Irving was held to nine points on 4-for-12 shooting in that game - his second after missing 11 straight with a broken finger. The Pacers made a key defensive adjustment in forcing the ball out of Irving's hands in the second half.
"Once Indiana became more aggressive and tried to take the ball out of Kyrie's hands, we caved into it and we just stopped playing," Scott said after that game.
Cleveland could be better poised to handle such a strategy since Dion Waiters is back. Waiters missed that contest with a sprained left ankle and has scored 21 points in two games since returning. The rookie is second on the team with 14.7 points per game.
Cleveland has dropped 16 straight to Central Division opponents since a 101-100 win over Detroit on Feb. 21. The Cavs have lost nine of 10 to the Pacers.
George enters this contest with two straight double-doubles after going 21 games in a row without one. He scored a team-high 27 earlier this month against Cleveland.
C.J. Miles led the Cavs with 28 points in the first meeting with Indiana, but he's totaled just 16 in two games since going back to the bench with Waiters rejoining the lineup.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Phenoms' God complex is our fault
It's scary how we openly worship kids like Wiggins and set them up for failure. -
Victims: Photo of Lillard led to attack
Two brothers allege that people standing near Portland Trail Blazers point guard Dami... -
Romo to miss at least three weeks
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will miss at least three weeks of offseason workouts af... -
Guns, cash stolen from Ray Rice
Police say the Maryland home of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was burglarize... -
Golf adopts new anchor putting rule
Golf's governing bodies have adopted a new rule that outlaws the putting stroke used ...
NBA Videos
Spurs 'D' key against Memphis bigs
Posted: May 19, 2013
Gregg Popovich on the Spurs defense against the Grizzlies.
Gregg Popovich on the Spurs defense against the Grizzlies.
Dwight Howard intrigued by Houston?
Posted: May 20, 2013
Is Dwight Howard intrigued by Houston? Only Dwight knows. Here's the latest on...
Is Dwight Howard intrigued by Houston? Only Dwight knows. Here's the latest on...
Parker performs in Game 1
Posted: May 19, 2013
Tony Parker talks about the Spurs Game 1 win over the Grizzlies
Tony Parker talks about the Spurs Game 1 win over the Grizzlies
NBA Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adidas Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers Revolution 30 Performance Jersey - Red | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Clippers/browse/featuredproduct/491845/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_491000/ff_491845_xl.jpg&w=100 | 59.95 | adidas Blake Griffin Los Angeles Clippers Revolution 30 Performance Jersey - Red |
| adidas LeBron James Miami Heat Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/498609/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_498000/ff_498609_xl.jpg&w=100 | 89.95 | adidas LeBron James Miami Heat Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey-Black |
| adidas Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Knicks/browse/featuredproduct/620470/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_620000/ff_620470_xl.jpg&w=100 | 49.99 | adidas Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks Revolution 30 Swingman Performance Jersey.. |
| Mitchell & Ness San Antonio Spurs Black Solid Script Snapback Adjustable Hat | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_San_Antonio_Spurs/browse/featuredproduct/692239/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_692000/ff_692239_xl.jpg&w=100 | 25.95 | Mitchell & Ness San Antonio Spurs Black Solid Script Snapback Adjustable Hat |
| Majestic Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Logo Man T-Shirt - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/851828/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851828_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Majestic Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers Logo Man T-Shirt - Black |
| Majestic Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder Logo Man T-Shirt - White | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oklahoma_City_Thunder/browse/featuredproduct/851842/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_851000/ff_851842_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Majestic Kevin Durant Oklahoma City Thunder Logo Man T-Shirt - White |
| adidas Miami Heat 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - White | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/890174/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_890000/ff_890174_xl.jpg&w=100 | 21.95 | adidas Miami Heat 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Wh.. |
| adidas Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 NBA Western Conference Champions Locker Room Flex Hat - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oklahoma_City_Thunder/browse/featuredproduct/890384/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_890000/ff_890384_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.99 | adidas Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 NBA Western Conference Champions Locker Room F.. |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.