Cleveland Jan. 3 (BUS): Rookie Evan Mobley scored 24 points and nine rebounds, Kevin Love scored 20, and the Cleveland Cavaliers closed out their three-game losing streak with a 108-104 win over the Indiana Pacers Sunday night.
Garrett Allen scored 18 points and Lamar Stevens added 15 points for Cleveland, a season-high, who trailed 84-73 in the third quarter before advancing 17-0 to take the lead forever. Love scored eight consecutive points during the surge.
“The guys are all advancing in different ways for us, like Lamar when we really needed him in the third quarter,” said Low, who has gone up 20 points in five straight games. “We called off the second half and never looked back once we started.”
Domantas Sabonis scored 32 points, had 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Pacers, and rookie Duane Washington Jr. scored a season-high with 20 points. Indiana has fallen four times in a row overall and hasn’t won on the road since November 22 in Chicago, the Associated Press reports.
Washington exhausted a three-pointer with eight seconds left to pull Indiana down within 3 seconds at 107-104, but Brandon Goodwin split a pair of free throws to restore the Cavaliers’ lead with a two-holding. Cleveland made 7 of 12 fouls in the fourth quarter.
“Their run at the end of the third half was the difference in the game, so that was tough,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “I’m proud of the way the players competed throughout the night, which makes this result really disappointing, given the effort.”
Allen also scored 11 rebounds and stopped three shots, while the recently signed Goodwin scored seven points and five assists. Cleveland shooting guard Isaac Okoro lost to a left elbow injury due to Sabonis’ on-screen selection.
Mobley, USC’s third overall pick, is averaging 20.8 points and shooting 63.3% from the field in four games since breaking out of NBA’s health and safety protocols. He made 11 of 16 shots against Indiana.
“We want Evan to hit the ball more because we think it goes in every time,” Allen said. “If he stays aggressive, we think that will help us keep winning matches. We really needed that tonight to give us a boost.”
Justin Holiday scored 18 points from six three-pointers, and 28-year-old rookie Kiefer Sykes scored 10 points and five assists on his debut with Indiana. Sykes played in South Korea, Turkey, Italy, China, Greece and Australia before signing with the Pacers on December 27.
“Our defense was the reason we got away,” Holiday said. “Sometimes you don’t always stay hot offensively, but a few more stops and we win the game.”
Pacers guard Caris LeVert and Center Goga Bitadze were added to safety protocols earlier today. They have seven players on the COVID-19 program, including Malcolm Brogdon, Chris Duarte and Jeremy Lamb.
Homecoming
Pacers guard Lance Stephenson signed a 10-day contract on Saturday, one day after playing the Atlanta Hawks in their 121-118 win in the Cleveland. Stevenson, who is serving his third assignment with Indiana, was out of the NBA for two years before joining Atlanta on December 22. Carlisle said. “I know it will go to extremes.”
Hint
Pacers: No event has been scheduled at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday, allowing Indiana to hold practice after arriving in Cleveland. “We went through some defensive, offensive and defensive things again,” Carlisle said. …Justin Anderson made three appearances for the Cavaliers before signing a 10-day contract Saturday. …Indiana has the second worst road record in the East at 3-14 after losing the last five cars.
Cavaliers: J. Darius Garland and F. Sidi Othman remain on COVID-19 protocols. Garland, the team’s top scorer, missed his fourth match in a row, while substitute star Othman missed five goals in a row. …G Kevin Pangos scored seven points in his third straight start on point. The 28-year-old rookie has spent the past six seasons playing in Europe. “Kevin has seen a lot and the moments are not too big for him,” said coach JB Bickerstaff.
next one
Pacers: Visit New York on Tuesday night.
Cavaliers: Host Memphis on Tuesday night.