Indiana Pacers got their 12th victory of the season by taking down the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers, 108-99 at Conseco Fieldhouse in front of 12,021 basketball fans.
Danny Granger played one of best games in Indiana uniform and scored a game-high 30 points with 12 rebounds. Roy Hibbert, Brandon Rush, and Mike Dunleavy each added 15 points for Indiana, to end their three-game losing streak.
Five Cavaliers’ players scored in double figures. Mo Williams had 22 points to lead the Cavaliers. Anthony Parker and Antawn Jamison posted 17 points apiece in the 10th consecutive defeat of Cavaliers while Anderson Varejao netted in 15 points and 6 rebounds.
Game Story
The Cavaliers had a very tough time this season as they have lost 11 matches in a row on the road and have not won away from home since 9 November 2010 at New Jersey.
The Pacers entered the court losing three consecutive games by an average of 16 points and at the same time their key player Granger, was battling an ankle injury and had not shot better than 50 per cent from the floor in any of his past four games for Pacers.
However, Granger did not disappoint his home crowd this time, as he has lambasted the Cavaliers throughout his career, and did it again, scoring highest points of the game and had 12-of-22 available shots.
"We'll take it. Cleveland has had some issues. They are struggling a little bit with a losing streak, but we will take the win. This team just came back from Miami and played those guys well. We were up for the challenge. We obviously played well enough
to win,” said Indiana’s Mike Dunleavy.
Only eight Cavalier’s players played extensively, even then they had a great start as they scored 23 points in the first quarter and limiting the host team to 19.
The Cavaliers led the game by 48-47 until Dunleavy of Pacers made a 3-pointer with 32.9 seconds left in the first half. Just 1.2 seconds before halftime James Posey hit a 3-pointer and Indiana took a five-point halftime lead, 53-48.
Indiana maintained a comfortable edge throughout the second half. Josh McRobert’s one-handed powerful jam further expanded Indiana’s lead to 58-52. A 3-pointer by Granger pushed it to 67-56, and the Pacers led 84-74 heading into fourth.
Indiana reserve forward Solomon Jones sat out the fourth quarter. Somehow, his expulsion did not bothered Pacers at all as they played the final session of the game in their own style, limiting turnovers, making shots around the court in the crucial phase,
rotating players throughout the final half, and playing tenacious defence. The Pacers maintained their lead throughout the fourth quarter and got a much-needed victory in a convincing manner, 108-99.
Nasty Performances
Daniel Gibson of Cavaliers shot 1-for-7 from the field and finished with four points and reserve Ramon Sessions missed 5-for-7 shots from the field.
Unsung Stars
Injuries have forced Cleveland to play with a short bench. Forward Leon Powe missed the game due tearing of some skin off his middle finger during the practice session on Thursday. Forward Joey Graham also missed the game with a right quad strain.
Pacer’s Power forward, F Tyler Hansbrough did not play with sprained left ankle.
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