Pacers draw first blood to end Cavaliers’ streak

Victor Oladipo scored 32 points and the Indiana Pacers held off Cleveland’s second-half rally for a stunning 98-80 victory Sunday in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference series, handing LeBron James and the Cavaliers their first loss in the opening round in eight years.

Indiana was in control from the outset, opening a 21-point lead in the first quarter and leading by 23 in the third.

The host Cavs stormed back and got within seven, but Oladipo hit a big threepointer and Bojan Bogdanovic helped put Cleveland away with a three to make it 88-71.

The Pacers completely outplayed the three-time defending conference champions, whose turbulent regular season has apparently carried over into the playoffs.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Cleveland.

James scored 24 with 12 assists and 10 rebounds for his 20th career tripledouble. But he got little help as Cleveland’s four other starters — Kevin Love, Jeff Green, Rodney Hood and George Hill — combined for 25 points.

This is all new to James, who had won 21 consecutive first-round games and lost the first game of the post-season for the first time in his 13th playoffs. The 33-year-old is trying to get to his eighth straight NBA Finals, and already the path is tougher than imagined.

Cleveland had won 14 straight first-round games, last losing on April 22, 2010, the last season of James’s first stint with the Cavs.

Indiana was swept by Cleveland in last year’s opening round.

Those Pacers, though, didn’t have Oladipo or the balance of this Indy squad, which may lack experience but not confidence.

Lance Stephenson, a longtime playoff nemesis for James, helped set the tone in the first quarter with a dunk he punctuated by throwing several punches into the padded basket stanchion.

The Pacers took the fight to the Cavs. They were more physical, more energetic and more composed.

Oladipo has become one of the NBA’s rising stars, and after being a role player in Oklahoma City, he’s Indiana’s main attraction and looked like a seasoned star on the playoff stage. He made six three-pointers, swiped the ball from James on two occasions and more than doubled his previous playoff scoring high of 15.

While not a key contributor in points, Pacers guard Cory Joseph made an impact. The Torontonian had a single three-pointer but had three rebounds, assists and steals. The game’s other Canadian, Cleveland’s Tristan Thompson, spent just one minute on the court.

CELTICS 113, BUCKS 107

Al Horford had 24 points and 12 rebounds and the Boston Celtics overcame Khris Middleton’s long three that beat the fourth-quarter buzzer, topping the Milwaukee Bucks 113-107 in overtime Sunday in Boston to open their playoff series.

The Celtics led 99-96 with 0.5 seconds left in regulation when Middleton took an inbounds pass on the far right wing and hit a contested 35-footer to force OT.

Terry Rozier added 23 points, four rebounds and three assists for Boston in his first career playoff start. Jaylen Brown finished with 20 points. Rookie Jayson Tatum added 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out in overtime.

Middleton had 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Malcolm Brogdon scored all 16 of his points after halftime for Milwaukee.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night in Boston.

An acrobatic, spinning layup by Tatum gave Boston a 108-105 lead in overtime.

It was 108-106 when Horford snared a rebound and got it ahead to Rozier, who was fouled.

He made two free throws to put the Celtics in front 110-106 with 18.8 remaining.

Antetokounmpo made one of two foul shots with 14.8 seconds left, but he fouled out of the game while going for the rebound on his miss.

Rozier added three free throws to provide the final margin.

The game went to extra time following a wild finish in regulation that included back-to-back three-pointers in the closing seconds.

Milwaukee was held to just two field goals over the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter as the Celtics built an 86-76 advantage.

The Bucks closed to 89-87 before Marcus Morris made a falling down jumper just inside the arc to make it 91-87.

It was 92-91 with less than a minute to play when a pair of free throws by Horford made it 94-91.

Antetokounmpo got free for a dunk, but Horford was steady again after being fouled, connecting on two more from the line with 15.2 seconds left.

Out of a timeout, Brogdon got free on the wing and drained a three with 10.3 to play to tie it at 96-96.

Rozier dribbled the clock down before crossing over Eric Bledsoe, stepping back and swishing an apparent game-winner with a halfsecond showing the clock. But after a Milwaukee time out advanced the ball to half court, Middleton matched it with his own three over Brown as time expired.