Cleveland (1-1) at Indiana (1-1)
When: Friday, April 20th 2018
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Indiana -2/208.5
I thought that the Cleveland Cavaliers would come out in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round series with the Indiana Pacers and roll to a victory – I was dead wrong. I underestimated how good this Indiana really is and predicted a Cleveland victory in Game 2, but that Indiana would cover in this video. LeBron James struggled to find his shooting touch in the series opener, but came back strong by scoring his team’s first 16 points on Wednesday as Cleveland held off the Pacers 100-97 to even the series. Game 3 shifts back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, where the Cavaliers have struggled recently, and the Pacers are excited to have stolen home court back. “We really wanted to go home 2-0 but we got one on the road,” Indiana center Myles Turner told reporters. “We did our jobs. I can’t wait to be back in front of the Indy fans. I hope these guys are ready, I know they are.” The Pacers dominated the first quarter en route to a Game 1 victory (98-80) and remain confident heading home despite the tight loss in Game 2. James ended Wednesday’s game with 46 points, but he will need help from others, especially in the paint, where the Pacers outscored Cleveland 62-30. Indiana won both home meetings with Cleveland this season and have covered the spread in five of the last six matchups.
After Cleveland was embarrassed in Game 1, head coach Tyronn Lue decided to make a lineup change for Game 2, inserting veterans Kyle Korver and JR Smith into the starting lineup in place of Jeff Green and Rodney Hood. Korver, who went 4-of-8 from 3-point range, and Kevin Love, where the only other players to score in double-digits, as James decided to take matters into his own hands by draining 17-of-24 shots. Love injured his left thumb late in Game 2 but is expected to play on Friday. Four of the five bench players on Wednesday had a -7 rating or worse while on the floor.
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Indiana All-Star guard Victor Oladipo scored a game-high 32 points in Game 1 but was held to 22 on 9-of-18 shooting while battling foul trouble in Game 2. The Pacers still managed to shoot 52.6% from the floor in Game 2 thanks to their inside game, but struggled to 6-of-22 from 3-point range and committed 17 turnovers. Not having Oladipo on the court for an extended period of time really showed in the plus/minus stat, where he was +11 and the other starting four where all in the minus. Bojan Bogdanovic is 3-of-16 from 3-point range in his last four games, including the regular season.
Indiana seems to have a better all-around team in this series, but Cleveland still has the best player. The Pacers could easily be up 2-0 in this series if Oladipo didn’t get into foul trouble in my opinion in Game 2. Indiana is not intimidated by this Cavaliers team and will let LeBron do what he wants, as long as they stop the others. I see Indiana winning this game.
Pick: Pacers PK
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
- Cavaliers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win.
- Cavaliers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Cavaliers are 25-10 ATS in their last 35 Friday games.
- Cavaliers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Cavaliers are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Cavaliers are 9-22 ATS in their last 31 games following a ATS loss.
- Cavaliers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Cavaliers are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Pacers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Pacers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Central.
- Pacers are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Pacers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Friday games.
- Pacers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
- Pacers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Pacers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Pacers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Pacers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
- Pacers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Pacers are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Pacers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 5-1 in Cavaliers last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 Friday games.
- Under is 8-3 in Cavaliers last 11 overall.
- Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 5-0-1 in Pacers last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 7-1 in Pacers last 8 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 13-2-1 in Pacers last 16 vs. NBA Central.
- Under is 13-3-1 in Pacers last 17 Friday games.
- Under is 8-2 in Pacers last 10 home games.
- Under is 12-3 in Pacers last 15 games following a ATS win.
- Under is 11-3 in Pacers last 14 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 24-7-1 in Pacers last 32 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 12-4 in Pacers last 16 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 14-5 in Pacers last 19 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 14-5 in Pacers last 19 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Pacers last 26 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Under is 34-16-1 in Pacers last 51 overall.
- Under is 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Cavaliers are 3-8-1 ATS in the last 12 meetings in Indiana.
- Road team is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
- Cavaliers are 5-15-1 ATS in the last 21 meetings.
- Underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
