Ottawa Citizen

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 three-pointer 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 triple-double. 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.

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

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 in-bounds 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.

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.

THUNDER 116, JAZZ 108

Paul George scored 36 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the visiting Utah Jazz 116-108 in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series on Sunday night.

George set an Oklahoma City playoff record with eight three-pointers. He made eight of 11 shots from long range and 13 of 20 shots overall.

It was his first playoff game with the Thunder since being acquired in a trade with the Indiana Pacers in the off-season.

Russell Westbrook had 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Carmelo Anthony added 15 points for the Thunder, who will host Game 2 on Wednesday.

Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell had 27 points and 10 rebounds, but left in the second half with left foot soreness. He returned in the fourth but was hobbling.

Rudy Gobert scored 14 points, and Joe Ingles and Jae Crowder each added 13 for the Jazz.

ROCKETS 104, T-WOLVES 101

James Harden had 44 points as the heavily favoured Houston Rockets drew first blood in their quarter-final series against the Minnesota Timberwolv­es by virtue of their 104-101 win in Houston Sunday night. Game 2 is Wednesday in Houston.

Canadian Andrew Wiggins led Minnesota with 18 points.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada