Game 3 Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers

The Cleveland Cavaliers hit the road to face the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the First Round playoff series Thursday night. The game is set to tip off at 7 ET on TNT.

After two close wins the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to go up 3-0 in series, and put the Pacers on the brink of elimination.

Series recap

After a Game 1 that went down to the last possession, Game 2 was not quite as dramatic, but still a very competitive game. The Cavs went on several runs throughout the first half, but could not put the Pacers away because of their tendency to turn the ball over.

It looked like the Cavs sealed the victory in the third quarter, when a hot stretch from Kyrie Irving put Cleveland up 18 points. But Indiana chipped away at the lead throughout the fourth quarter, and put the pressure on until the very end. The biggest difference in this game, though, was Cleveland’s ability to make free throws down the stretch.—and in general.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The series now shifts to Indiana, where the Pacers look extend the series after playing the defending champs pretty close in the first two games. Paul George has been sensational so far, averaging 30.5 points per game and shooting 55.6% from three-point range. Jeff Teague has also been playing well for the Pacers, putting up 19 points per game, while Lance Stephenson (14.5 ppg) has also had a couple respectable performances.

The Cavs, while they have not been stout defensively, have gotten great production from the Big 3. The threesome is averaging a combined 80.3 points per game. LeBron James has had two impressive stat lines in particular; he averaging 28.5 points, 8.0 assists, and 10.0 rebounds per game, on 57.5% shooting.

While Indiana has played pretty well in their own rate offensively, it has not had an answer for Cleveland’s Big 3 so far.

How Game 3 could play out

The Pacers were a very solid 29-12 at home during the regular season, compared to just 13-28 on the road. That stat alone indicates that Indiana has a very good chance of winning at least one of these next two games.

The Cavs have made these games close by self-inflicted wounds. The reason why it was so close was because of their turnovers; in Game 1, the reason why it was so close was because of poor foul-shooting.

When it has avoided mistakes in these first two games, Cleveland has looked like the far superior team. The fact that they were able to get the first two games, despite being error-prone, just shows how good far above Indiana the Cavs are, talent-wise.

I think Cleveland has no interest in this becoming a longer series than it has to be. Despite Indiana’s tough home court, I expect the defending champs to go in to Indiana tonight and grind out a close one, pushing their lead to 3-0.

Prediction: 103, Pacers 100