Final
Pacers-Cavaliers Preview
Apr 9, 2010 - 5:53 AM By CHRIS ALTRUDA STATS EditorIndiana (30-48) at Cleveland (61-17), 7:30 p.m. EDT
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown is trying to keep his roster fully healthy heading into the playoffs.
He's having a hard time meeting that goal.
The Cavaliers coach may juggle his rotation again Friday night and sit LeBron James for a second straight game as they host the Indiana Pacers.
Cleveland (61-18) has nothing to play for these final three games, having already clinched the NBA's best overall record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Accordingly, Brown has decided to use this stretch of games to give some of his starters a rest to get them fresh ahead of the postseason.
James was given Thursday off as the Cavaliers lost 109-108 to Chicago, but the greater concern was midseason acquisition Antawn Jamison - still trying to find a comfort zone since being traded by Washington - suffering a bruised right foot while scoring 23 points. Cleveland is already without injured center Shaquille O'Neal, and there's a chance Brown may go without both James and Jamison for this game.
"It was much needed," guard Mo Williams said about James sitting out. "He takes a pounding, being knocked down on the court."
Williams proved capable of picking up the offensive slack by scoring a season-high 35 points and rallying the Cavaliers from a 12-point second-half deficit, but Anderson Varaejo's hesitation in taking a potential game-winning jumper in the final seconds shows just how much Cleveland needs James on the court in crunch time.
"Andy was wide open from 15 feet. He's got to shoot that," Brown said. "He's got to feel the clock. He's got to shoot that shot when he's that wide open."
With or without James, Williams has found his stroke offensively. The point guard is averaging 22.2 points and 6.8 assists while shooting 56.9 percent from the field - 51.7 percent (15 for 29) from 3-point range.
While Indiana (30-48) will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight season, it is now playing some of its best basketball. Danny Granger scored 33 points and Troy Murphy added 17 and 12 Wednesday in a 113-105 victory over New York, the eighth win in 10 games for the Pacers.
"We're clicking well on the offensive end," Granger said. "We're making shots, we're moving, we're getting layups, we're cutting. We really have everything going."
Granger has been making a push to close the season strong, averaging 28.3 points his last 16 games while topping 30 on eight occasions. He has, however, struggled in two games against Cleveland, totaling 32 points on 13-of-44 shooting (29.5 percent). Granger missed the last meeting between the teams, a 99-94 road defeat March 17 due to a cheek injury.
That loss was Indiana's 10th straight at Cleveland since a 109-104 double-overtime victory Nov. 3, 2004. The Cavaliers have won 16 of 19 between the teams and are trying to sweep the season series for the second time in three seasons.
- NBA
INDIANA 116
CLEVELAND 113 FINAL
Apr 9 10:01 PM - NBA
END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
INDIANA 26 29 28 83
CLEVELAND 25 32 27 84 END 3RD QTR
HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER
IND - DANNY GRANGER 23, EARL WATSON 14, ROY
HIBBERT 12
CLE - J.J. HICKSON 21, JAMARIO MOON 13, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 12
Apr 9 9:24 PM - NBA
INDIANA 55
CLEVELAND 57 HALFTIME
Apr 9 8:41 PM - NBA
INDIANA 26
CLEVELAND 25 END, 1ST QTR
Apr 9 8:10 PM
Related News
- Toronto Raptors Reportedly Trade Pascal Siakam to Indiana Pacers Jan 17
- LeBron James Has Been At His Best for Many Birthdays Dec 29
- Cavs beat Bulls 109-95 Dec 23
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls gamethread Dec 23
- Cavs down to 10 healthy players vs. Bulls Dec 23
- Watch the Market: Cavaliers vs. Pelicans Dec 22
- Shorthanded Cavs routed by Pelicans 123-104 Dec 21
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans gamethread Dec 21
- Cleveland Cavaliers defeat Utah Jazz 124-116 Dec 20
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Utah Jazz gamethread Dec 20
- What to watch for in Cavaliers vs. Jazz Dec 20
- Cavs, Rubio reportedly discussing parting ways Dec 20