The Indiana Pacers led wire to wire and beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-80 on Sunday in Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series. The Pacers covered the spread as 6.5-point underdogs and paid money-line bettors at a +240 clip. Cleveland’s poor offensive day also ensured the game went well under the total of 216.5.
The Pacers, the second road team to win in the first round of the playoffs thus far, take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 on Wednesday night in Cleveland. The series shifts to Indiana for Game 3 on Friday. Odds for Game 2 will be released shortly at the BetDSI Sportsbook.
Indiana never trailed
The Pacers jumped to a 25-8 lead, led 33-14 after a quarter and 55-38 at halftime. Cleveland cut the lead to as little as seven points on three separate occasions in the second half, but Indiana kept its distance and sealed the game with back-to-back buckets from Victor Oladipo, the second a 3-pointer for a 95-78 lead with 1:59 remaining.
Oladipo out-shined every player on the court, including Cleveland’s LeBron James, with 32 points on 11-of-19 shooting to go with six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Myles Turner scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and Bojan Bogdanovic added 15 for the Pacers.
Even in a losing effort, James was spectacular as always, recording a triple-double with 24 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. His shooting was not efficient, however, as he went 7 of 17 from the floor and missed all four of his 3-point attempts.
Cleveland’s only other double-figure scorers came off the bench: J.R. Smith with 15 points and Larry Nance Jr. with 10.
Better in every way
The visiting Pacers out-shot the Cavs, making 45.6 percent of their shots from the field, including a healthy 39.3 percent from 3-point range (11 of 28). Cleveland, meanwhile, shot 38.5 percent from the floor including 23.5 percent from deep (8 of 34).
Indiana also had 11 turnovers and forced the Cavs into 16 miscues. The rebounding battle was essentially even; Cleveland won it 46-44.
Looking ahead
The Cavaliers were big -700 favorites to win the series, but Indiana has taken control by handing James his first career first-round Game 1 loss. Cleveland, also among the favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference, will try to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday.
