It's been nine years since LeBron James' iconic buzzer-beater against the Orlando Magic in his first stint with the Cavaliers, but nothing has changed for "The King." James put up 44 points and didn't hit a 3-point shot for the first 47:59 of the game. But it was the buzzer-beater that counted. After chase-down block on Victor Oladipo at the other end, James hit the game-winner and sent the Cavs back to Indiana up 3-2.
It was the kind of shot that demoralizes teams, but now it's up to Indiana to recuperate. The Pacers have been in every game this series, and this one is no exception. Oladipo scored only 12 points for the Pacers in Game 5 while Domantas Sabonis led the team with 22. This series may feel like it's over after that shot, but now the Cavaliers must win Game 6 in the hostile Bankers Life Fieldhouse to avoid a winner-take-all Game 7.
How to Watch Game 6
- Date: Friday, April 27
- Time: TBD
- Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse -- Indianapolis, Indiana
- TV: ESPN
- Live stream: Watch ESPN
Playoff series schedule
Game 1 in Cleveland: Pacers 98, Cavaliers 80 | Herbert: Offensive issues plague CavsGame 2 in Cleveland: Cavaliers 100, Pacers 97 | Herbert: LeBron finds sidekick in KorverGame 3 in Indianapolis: Pacers 92, Cavaliers 90 Herbert: Cavs' nightmare second half
Game 4 in Indianapolis: Cavaliers 104, Pacers 100Game 5 in Cleveland: Cavaliers 98, Pacers 95 | Barnewall: LeBron's ridiculous game-winnerGame 6 in Indianapolis: Friday, April 27, TBA
Game 7 in Cleveland: Sunday, April 29, TBA (if necessary)
Regular season series: Pacers won 3-1
Last season's playoff results: Cavaliers were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in NBA Finals; Pacers were swept by the Cavaliers in the first round
Injury report: George Hill missed Game 4 due to back spasms.
Cavaliers' starting lineup: G Jose Calderon; G Kyle Korver; F J.R. Smith; F LeBron James; C Kevin Love
Pacers' starting lineup: G Darren Collison; G Victor Oladipo; F Bojan Bogdanovic; F Thaddeus Young; C Myles Turner
Cavaliers win if ...
The Cavaliers win if they flip the switch. They've been an up-and-down team all season, but they finished the season with flashes of who they want to be come postseason time. Larry Nance Jr. gives them a lot of versatility off the bench and is a game-changer for them. However, none of this matters if they can't flip the switch and look like the team everybody expects them to be. That will depend on LeBron James.
Pacers win if ...
The Pacers can win this series if the Cleveland's defense doesn't improve in the playoffs. The Cavs have been one of the NBA's worst defensive teams this season and ranks 29th in defensive efficiency. The Pacers have a fast-paced offense that can exploit the Cavs in a hurry. They're an average defensive team, though, so they'll need to outscore the Cavs to have a chance.
SportsLine projections
According to SportsLine data scientist Stephen Oh, the Cavaliers have a 59.8 percent chance to win the first round and a 34.4 percent chance of reaching the conference finals. SportsLine will have game-by-game gambling advice for every playoff series here.
0 Response to "NBA Playoffs 2018: Pacers vs. Cavs Game 5 score, series schedule, TV channel, online stream - CBSSports.com"
Post a Comment