Pacers vs. Knights
It is said that Indiana's Pacers, in the journey of this season, have the league's only offensive aggressiveness, which has brought a certain amount of pressure to many defensive teams. In the league's first mid-season tournament, they also toppled Eastern giants like the Bucks and the Green Army. Unfortunately, at the critical end of the regular season, the Pacers were unable to stabilize the situation and were still teetering on the edge of the play-in tournament. And this time, they came to Cleveland to challenge the Cavaliers, who were located there.
To be sure, the Cavaliers still look very low-key since they got back on track. Regardless of whether Mitchell is out or not, the rest of their squad will always step up and help the team stabilize their winning percentage. And so far, the Cavaliers also have a 47-33 record, ranking fourth in the East. This time the home team accepted the challenge of the Pacers, and the Cavaliers were still able to stabilize the situation and won the game with a total score of 129-120.
Specific competition
In the first half of the competition, the Cavaliers who were fighting at home maintained a hot state, expanding the difference between the two teams one after another. Mitchell shot 5 of 9 in the first quarter, 1 of 1 free throws, and delivered 13 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 1 steal, Allen also had 9 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists, helping the team play a 35-26 score and get a 9-point lead, and entering the second quarter of the matchup, Allen was also able to step up, playing 7 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist, Mobley also shot 3 of 3, sent 6 points and 3 rebounds, helping the team play a 35-33 score in one fell swoop, expanding the difference to 11 points.
Yibian fought again, and the Pacers, who were bullied one after another, could also launch corresponding counterattacks. In the third quarter, Haliburton shot 3-of-4 from the field and 1-of-1 from the free throw line, delivering 8 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists, and Nesmith even contributed a crucial 9 points, as well as Toppin, who handed over 6 points, to help the team narrow the gap to 3 points with a score of 35-27. In the final quarter of the decisive game, the Pacers tried the final comeback, but still allowed the Cavaliers to play a score of 32-26. In the end, the four quarters of regular time were over, and the Cavaliers won the final victory with a total score of 129-120.
epilogue
The Cavaliers have 8 players in the rotation, and 5 players have scored in double figures, and the overall efficiency is still very good. During this period, Mitchell played 37.5 minutes, shot 12-of-27, and delivered 33 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, which greatly eased the team's scoring pressure. Garland also had 16 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists, as well as Allen, who shot 13 of 14 in a single game and handed over 29 points, 12 rebounds and 2 assists, which also relieved the pressure on the team's offensive and defensive ends. After winning the game, the Cavaliers also announced that they had locked up the playoffs early.
On the other hand, the Pacers, who lost away from home, did their best in this game. Seven players on the team scored in double figures, but they were still a little inferior in handling details. Siakam delivered 19 points and 6 rebounds, Haliburton only had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists, while Turner shot 6 of 11, contributed 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, and McConnell, who handed over 16 points, 2 rebounds and 7 assists, could only enter the empty cut group.