Live Thread: Pacers at Cavs

The Indiana Pacers come to Cleveland looking to avenge last week’s loss to the defending champions. Kyle Korver finally got loose in that one going of for 29 points on only 12 shots. It was a coming out party for Korver and the beginning of a four game losing streak for the Pacers. Both teams will be without their starting PFs as Thaddeus Young continues to recover from a wrist injury and Kevin Love misses his second straight game in what will be an extended absence. Backup Lavoy Allen is also questionable with a sore knee.

Paul George and Myles Turner will still give the Cavs a challenge with their play at both ends of the floor. Turner is slowly coming out of a mini-slump that contributed to Indiana’s slide. The Cavs will again lean on Channing Frye and Derrick Williams to fill in for Love. Ty Lue would be wise to give LeBron some more rest in the second night of a back-to-back. The King logged 40 minutes in the victory over the Wolves. But all minutes are not created equal. Part of LeBron’s recent assist spike can be attributed to a more stationary style of offensive play. LeBron has been content to pick apart opposing defenses that are desperate to stick with the Frye/Korver screen action. With LeBron holding the ball with shooters all around, Lue can afford to give Bron a few minutes more than one might think. Still, let’s not push it, Ty.

Also, as a cool bonus, the game is not only televised nationally on ESPN tonight, it’s also going to be announced by the legendary Bill Walton and Dick Vitale as part of their NCAA crossover night. Here’s how it went the last time these two guys announced a LeBron James game:

All of these years later… @DickieV & @BillWalton call their second #LeBronJames game!@Pacers x @Cavs 7pm/et @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/Vvd9wsyX6j

— NBA (@NBA) February 15, 2017