LeBron gets first Game 1 loss in 12 years
LeBron James’ playoff dominance is documented. Seven consecutive NBA Finals appearances, and before Sunday James’ teams had:
❚ Twenty-one consecutive victories in the first round, including five consecutive sweeps.
❚ Twelve consecutive seasons — James’ entire playoff career — with a victory in Game 1 of the first round.
❚ Won 36 of 41 games in the Eastern Conference playoffs in the past three seasons.
Those runs all ended Sunday, at home no less.
Indiana beat Cleveland 98-80 in Game 1, the first time James has lost a first-round game since 2012. Game 2 is Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, TNT).
In this matchup of the fourth seed (Cleveland) against the fifth (Indiana), the result was no fluke. The Pacers won three of four games against the Cavs this season, and if you believe in karma or its relatives, it probably didn’t help the Cavs’ cause when team owner Dan Gilbert said “Indiana could’ve did better than it did” after the Pacers traded Paul George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis when the Cavs had tried to acquire George.
The Pacers have more than a legitimate shot to beat the three-time defending Eastern Conference champs and James, who has never lost a firstround series.
Indiana is a solid team, and Nate McMillan deserves recognition as coach of the year. The 48-34 Pacers finished two games behind Cleveland in the Central Division.
Oladipo likely will win the most improved award and possibly finish on one of the three All-NBA teams and one of the two All-NBA defensive teams. He’s been among the top guards in his best season, averaging 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals while shooting 47.7% from the field.
He had 32 points, six rebounds and four assists in Game 1. But it’s not a oneman show. The Pacers finished the regular season in the top 14 in offensive and defensive rating.
Myles Turner had 16 points and eight rebounds, Bogdan Bogdanovic had 15 points and Lance Stephenson had 12.
While Cleveland struggled at times defensively against Indiana, offense was its problem in Game 1. One of the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA, they were 8-for-33 (23.5%) and shot 38.5% from the field. Jeff Green, Kyle Korver, Jordan Clarkson and Jose Calderon were a combined 1-for-17.
James had another playoff tripledouble, but that wasn’t enough. It was the 20th playoff triple-double of his career. He finished with 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.