Cleveland Cavaliers vs Indiana Pacers Game 3: What We Learned

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Apr 20, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 119-114. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

1. LeBron has another record breaking night.

James led the Cavs’ unprecedented comeback with 26 points, 7 assists, 5 boards, and no turnovers in the second half alone. He finished the night with a 41 point triple-double while shooting 14 of 27 from the field and 6 of 12 from distance. James was responsible for 73 of the Cavs’ 119 points through either points or assists.

LeBron put up a stat-line that has never been put up in NBA history. He is the first person ever to have a 40 plus point triple-double while shooting 50% from the field and 50% from 3. James is also the only other player besides Oscar Robertson to have multiple 40 point triple-doubles in the postseason. This was his 17th career triple-double in the playoffs.

If that wasn’t enough, he become the third all-time leading playoff scorer of passing up Kobe Bryant. He now has 5,670 career playoff points. He’s a little over 300 points away from breaking the all-time playoff record set by Michael Jordan. He can realistically reach that goal this playoff run.

James had a playoff performance for the ages. He almost single-handedly willed Cleveland to victory on Thursday night. No other player in the league could have orchestrated a comeback like that.

This performance was just another reminder that you cannot count out a team that has LeBron on it. As soon as you think that this could be the end of James’s run of dominance, he reminds us ever so gently that he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.