Cavaliers escape with Game 1 win over Pacers

> CAVALIERS 109 > PACERS 108 CLEVELAND LEADS SERIES 1-0

CLEVELAND— Their regular-season issues followed the Cavaliers into the playoffs.

They didn’t win their post-season opener as much as survive it.

LeBron James scored 32 points and the defending champions, looking to flip the switch after a shaky regular season, began the NBA playoffs by escaping with a 109-108 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Indiana could have won it in the final seconds, but C.J. Miles, who Cleveland’s players and coaches call a“Cavs killer,” missed a14-foot jumper just before the horn.

“C.J. had a pretty decent look,” Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. “We have to make that shot.”

Playing in his 200th playoff game, James added 13 assists and six rebounds while winning his 18th consecutive first-round game.

However, it was anything but easy as the Cavs, who had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, had to withstand a strong comeback by the Pacers, who had the ball and a chance to win with 20 seconds left. Indiana wanted star Paul George to take the last shot, but Cleveland doubleteamed him and he was forced to pass it to Miles, whose shot was on line but short.

“I talked to C.J. about it,” George said. “In situations like that, I gotta get the last shot. I was asking for it. C.J. took it upon himself.”

Kyrie Irving added 23 points and Kevin Love had 17 for Cleveland, which has won 12 straight playoff games at home.

George scored 29 points and Lance Stephenson had 16 for the seventhseeded Pacers, who will try to even the series on Monday night.

Irving dismissed the idea that Cavs feel vulnerable after going10-14 since March 1.

“Hell, no,” he snapped. “Not going into the game with the group that we have.”