CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers turned a tight game into an easier affair for the visiting Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
The result? Another loss by the Wine and Gold. Indiana left Quicken Loans Arena with a 99 to 89 victory.
Cleveland, playing without injured veteran Anderson Varejao, clung to a one point lead going into the third quarter, but Indiana outscored the Cavs by ten in the frame and took a 9 point advantage into the 4th quarter.
Indiana had a balanced attack, with 6 players in double figures, led by Roy Hibbert, who had 18.
Paul George had two straight steals for baskets in a matter of seconds that stretched the Indiana lead to 14 early in the fourth quarter. The Cavs never recovered.
Cleveland was paced by last year’s Rookie of the Year, Kyrie Irving, who scored 17. Five other Cavs were in double figures, including Tristan Thompson who had 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The Cavs shot only 40 percent for the game, while Indiana, in the third quarter alone, fired shots at a 68 percent clip.
The Cavaliers travel to Milwaukee for a Saturday night affair with the Bucks.
