LeBron holds his peace on playoffs

LeBron James is keeping his thoughts to himself.

Whatever concerns — or confidence — he might harbor about his Cavaliers facing a 2-1 firstround Eastern Conference series hole heading into Game 4 at the Indiana Pacers on Sunday were not going to be made available for public consumption.

James decided not to speak to reporters on Saturday.

And he did not have a whole lot to say in the immediate aftermath of Game 3, either, when Indiana erased a 17-point deficit and then held on for a 92-90 victory over

the Cavs.

Not only has the fourtime MVP and three-time NBA champ never lost an opening NBA postseason series, going 12-0 in the past, he had never even trailed in the first round until this one, when Cleveland dropped Game 1 at home. Now he is behind again. “We’ve had some good quarters,” James said Friday, “and we didn’t have some good quarters.” Well, that explains a lot. Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue’s synopsis?

“They won a game we

should have won,” Lue said. “That’s what’s disappointing. But we’re not discouraged. We’ve got to get Game 4 — and I’m confident.”

In addition to CavaliersPacers on Sunday, the day’s other NBA games are the Boston Celtics at the Milwaukee Bucks, the Golden State Warriors at the San Antonio Spurs, and the Toronto Raptors at the Washington Wizards.

A look at Sunday’s game:

Cavaliers at Pacers

Indiana leads 2-1. Game 4, 8:30 p.m., TNT

NEED TO KNOW» Cleveland is 0-3 at Indiana so far this season. So even though James’ teams have eliminated

the Pacers four times in their past seven postseason appearances, the Cavs have some work cut out for themselves.

KEEP AN EYE ON» James’ supporting cast. He has been his typical self through the first three games, but that hasn’t been enough to create more wins than losses. The Cavaliers are averaging just 90 points in the series and had trouble holding leads. Could the secondhalf struggles be a result of James’ logging more than 41 minutes per game? Perhaps. But this is supposed to be the time of year when he carries his club, no matter what help he gets — or doesn’t.

PRESSURE IS ON» Lue. While his lineup change worked wonders early in Games 2 and 3, the Cavs couldn’t close out either and nearly blew both. Now he needs to find another adjustment that gives James & Co. a chance to steal a road win and get back into the series.

INJURY UPDATE» PG George Hill is questionable with back spasms. “Right now he’s getting an MRI to see what’s going on in there,” Lue said Saturday. If Hill can’t play, it’s not clear who would replace him.

Could be Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson or Jose Calderon, who did not play in Game 3.

DARRON CUMMINGS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LeBron James has never trailed in a first-round series before this series against the Pacers.