McMillan explained that Stephenson drew the assignment on Love because IN needed George to match up on Kyrie Irving, who torched IN for a game-high 37 points on 14-24 shooting.
Although the Pacers have come up short twice while trying to come from behind late, they have reason to feel optimistic as the series shifts to Indianapolis for Game 3 Thursday. "We're really close to what we can become". It marked the 3rd time in his playoff career that Love tallied at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a postseason game.
For the second time in as many games, Paul George chided one of his teammates during his post-game remarks from the podium, providing honest and measured assessments that don't bring the Pacers any closer to upsetting LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
The Pacers were led by, forward, Paul George with 32 points and 8 rebounds. Jeff Teague scored 23 points, and Thaddeus Young contributed 16.
Irving led Cleveland's scoring on a night when all of the champions' big guns fired. That took away chances for the Pacers to possibly erase their awful second half play as a whole, resulting in a well-deserved Game 2 loss and an 0-2 series deficit.
"We know what's at stake", C.J. Miles said.
"I'm not even going to say it's our defense", Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said.
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"I thought we lost our composure and got frantic out there", McMillan said of his team's third-quarter meltdown. The last time three players had at least 25 points in a National Basketball Association playoff game was on 4/27/14 (Harden - 28, Parson - 26, Howard - 25 for HOU in OT). "And we don't push the ball every single possession when we get a chance". But not so much the (isolation) because we have good players who can do that. "We understand that, but we've got to be smart also".
That flip could be coming soon according to LeBron James.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith is hopeful of a quick return from a hamstring injury which restricted him in his team's win over the Indiana Pacers.
Smith missed three months with a fractured right thumb.
Kyrie Irving scored 25 points in the second half - 37 for the game.
"He had that mindset, came in and executed, and it's hard to come off the bench right after halftime". The Pacers went 29-19 at home during the regular season.
History told us that Game 1 had the potential to be competitive, and it was. "We take away some of these easy baskets we're giving up and these games might be a little different". Even when we're down big. "We're going to go out there, keep trying to give them hell, keep competing and we'll get ourselves a win". Love went just 6-for-7 from the field, but 12-of-12 from the free throw line for 27 points with 11 rebounds, three assists, a block and two turnovers. Game 3 takes place in Memphis on Thursday. George has made at least one 3-pointer in 19 consecutive playoff games. Only Jerry West (14) and Michael Jordan (15) had more. Love helped the Cavaliers blow the game open in the third quarter by dominating down low against smaller Pacers defenders, namely Lance Stephenson. He was a free agent after being released by the New Orleans Pelicans, who needed his roster spot because he was injured. The Cleveland Cavaliers are allowing 36.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 35.5 rebounds per game.
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