With a 17 point lead at half-time and having produced arguably their best defensive half of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers somehow collapsed after the break and suffered a 92-90 loss to the Indiana Pacers.They now trail their first-round series 2-1 with game three to take place in Indiana on Sunday night.Everything was going so well for the Cavs and they had great contribution outside of LeBron James in the first half.Kevin Love had 16 points and the likes of George Hill, Larry Nance Jr. and Rodney Hood had all chipped in with strong plays on both ends of the floor.But the Cavaliers came out a completely different team in the second half and couldn't cope with the defensive intensity of the Pacers who produced a terrific fightback.James once again had a big game for the visitors as he ended the night with a near triple-double of 28 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists.But the superstar's supporting cast disappeared after the half-time interval and they posted a total of just 33 points after they'd put up 57 before the break.
LeBron is averaging a playoff-leading 32.7 points, 11.3 boards, and 8.3 assists on 54 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range in three games.In comparison, his teammates have combined to shoot 40.6 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from beyond the arc over that period.Love, J.R. Smith and Jordan Clarkson all missed wide-open three-pointers at crucial stages in the fourth quarter while James managed to knock down three of his own to keep them in the ball game.Despite the disappearing act by his teammates, the four-time MVP refused to blame them for the loss after the game.
"What are you guys looking for? You guys think I'm gonna throw my teammates under the bus?" James said, per NBA TV. "No, I'm not about that. Guys just gotta play better, including myself."
Coming into this matchup with the Pacers, the 33-year-old had never trailed in a first-round series, but it's now happened twice.
He is now staring an opening round exit in the face, something that has never happened in his illustrious 15-year career.
But the King was not blameless for their second half failings and also acknowledged that he needs to do a better job of protecting the ball after he coughed it up on numerous occasions.
"I had six turnovers tonight," he said. "I was horrible in the third quarter, couldn't make a shot.
"If I make some better plays in the third quarter, then the lead don't slip. So, we know we all gotta play better as a collective group."
It's difficult to be critical of the three-time champion in any way as everything goes through him offensively and is shouldering the burden of scoring and facilitating for the team every night whilst playing almost 48 minutes.
The truth is quite simple, there just isn't enough talent on the Cavs roster to give him the support he needs offensively and that has been telling in this first round encounter.
That should give Indiana huge confidence that they can pull off an unthinkable upset and end LeBron's seven-year dominance of the Eastern Conference.