Cavs nip Pacers in Game 1 thriller: Spurs surge
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 Apr 2017
CHICAGO -- The Cleveland Cavaliers began their title defense with a narrow 109-108 win over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday afternoon at the Quicken Loans Arena.
In the first game of a quadruple offering to welcome the 2017 NBA playoffs, the Cavs took Game 1 of the best-of-7 opening round series after CJ Miles missed a wide open 14-footer as time expired.
LeBron James led the Cavaliers with 32 points, 13 assists and 6 rebounds while Kyrie Irving finished with 23 points and six dimes despite shooting just 11 of 27 from the field. Kevin Love had 17 and Channing Frye added 11 of the bench for Cleveland, which made 42 of 78 field goals and 11 of 28 triples.
Paul George was spectacular for the Pacers with 29 points and 7 helpers but he was double-teamed in the closing seconds as Cavs were determined to have someone else take the potential game-winning shot. George sank 9-of-19 field goals and 6-of-8 triples. He also swished 5-of-7 free throws.
SPURS 111. GRIZZLIES 82. After trailing by 13 in the first quarter, the San Antonio Spurs buckled down to work and overwhelmed the Memphis Grizzlies, 111-82, at the AT&T Center to take a 1-0 lead in their Western Conference showdown.
Kawhi Leonard was the main man for the Spurs with 32 points on an efficient 11 of 14 shooting from the floor. LaMarcus Aldridge drilled 20 and grabbed six boards while Tony Parker had a resurgent effort with 18 points.
After falling being 30-25 at the end of the first quarter, San Antonio went on a 59-34 run to establish control and take an 84-64 bubble entering the final 12 minutes of play.
Marc Gasol had a solid 32 points to pace the Grizzlies but Zach Randolph and Mike Conley Jr struggled greatly, finishing with a combined 19 points while hitting only 8 of 27 field goals.
The No.2-ranked Spurs try to take a 2-0 lead over the seventh-seeded Memphis when both teams collide anew on Monday night (Tuesday AM in Manila) at the AT&T Center.
Photo: Cavs stars LeBron James (L) and Kyrie Irving celebrate their hard-fought triumph over the pesky Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their series opener.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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