5 things to watch for in Cavs/Pacers Game 2

However, this foul did wonders for IN because it showed them exactly what Cleveland had planned defensively and gave them an opening to make substitutions to take advantage of it. James was going to double off of Stephenson, so perhaps putting a more unsafe offensive player IN the game IN Stephenson’s spot would throw Cleveland’s plan off and help George get open. He can’t catch a break this season.

LeBron has never lost a first-round series. George put his hands out, waiting for the ball as he ran from the double-team defense of James and J.R. Smith. Lance Stephenson scored 16 points and he has to assert himself once again in this game. Iman Shumpert, who sat the opener, replaced Smith and played 20 solid minutes. LeBron followed up his 32-point effort in Game 1 with a 30-point, 12-assist, nine-rebound performance in the second game of the series.

But Kyle Korver, the NBA’s top 3-point shooter during the regular season, was limited to a single shot (he made it, a 2-pointer) in 15 minutes.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Monday in San Antonio.

“We can play better and we will play better”, Lue said.

However, from time to time, even he can make mistakes.

“Situations like that, I gotta get the last shot”, George said.

Gobert, who had to be helped off the court and carried into the locker room, is expected to undergo a magnetic resonance imaging scan on Saturday night to determine the severity of the injury. While the rest of the team combined for just 37. “I’m happy with how emotional we were”. A lot of it is his heart and his competitiveness, that emotion comes out on him. “We’ve got to play harder and be more physical in our defensive coverages”.

INJURY UPDATE: The Pacers are still listing backup big man Al Jefferson (sprained left ankle) and Glenn Robinson III (sore left calf) as questionable. The Spurs added the first 9 points of the 4th quarter to compile 93-64 lead. That quote blew up, becoming the pull quote of the night all over social media, even after Doc Rivers scrunched up his face and said of a potential strategy to hold for the last shot down two “like the dumbest thing” he’s ever heard.

Lowry scored four points in Saturday’s 97-83 loss to Milwaukee, connecting on just 2 of 11 field-goal attempts and finishing 0 for 6 from 3-point range. Stephenson had a strong workout with Cleveland in January before latching on with in, but coach Tyronn Lue said his recent injuries dissuaded the Cavs from signing him.