Cavaliers Suffer Hangover Loss Pacers Win 96-95

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

Danny Granger 2.10a

A controversial foul called on Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star forward LeBron James, caused Cavaliers coach Mike Brown to lose his temper, and nominally lose the game Tuesday night as they fell to the Indiana Pacers at the Canseco Fieldhouse 96-95. James was whistled for a foul on Pacers forward Danny Granger with less than a second to play, and Granger hit 1-2 at the line to seal the victory. Brown was livid after the contest as he spoke to reporters. The Cleveland coach said “That last call, on the run, is the worst call that I have ever been a part of. I cannot imagine another worse call than that. It was an awful call and for him to take away a basketball game from a team with .4 seconds on the clock is irresponsible.”

Whether the call was legitimate or not is irrelevant, what most likely got under Brown’s skin was that his team was in the position that a call could effect the game in the first place. Especially with the fact that LBJ had a game high 47 points. However except for Zydrunas Ilgauskas and newly named All-Star Mo Williams, the rest of the Cavaliers were in an offensive funk. Cleveland went through the dreaded “Hangover Loss” after falling to the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday ending their perfect record at the Q Arena this season. As happens many times after a streak is ended the Cavaliers seemed to be lost as a team throughout this contest. And the Pacers with a solid team effort were more than happy to take advantage.

This contest was close all night and the score at the end of the first quarter was indicative of that as the two opponents were knotted up at 24-24. The Pacers led for almost all of the second, until with 2:30 remaining LBJ drove the lane putting the ball up and in and the game was tied at 40-40. With 26 seconds to play James again made a layup, was fouled on the play, hit the shot at the line and Cleveland led 43-42 as the game reached the half.

It was the Cavaliers who were on top for most of the third, until with 3:25 to play Travis Diener launched a 26 foot trey giving Indiana the upper hand at 61-58. However once again LBJ came through slamming the ball with 8 seconds left in the quarter giving Cleveland the 68-67 advantage at the end of the quarter. The Pacers looked like they were going to take over the contest in the fourth as they pulled ahead 80-74 with 6:48 to play, when Troy Murphy drained a 25 foot trey. The Cavaliers would rally back tying the game with less than 1 second in regulation when James was fouled by Danny Granger and hit a pair at the line. The Pacers took a 20 second timeout, and on the ensuing play LBJ was whistled for the foul on Granger. The Indiana forward hit the first shot at the line, missed the second, but it was enough to win the game.

Troy Murphy led the Indiana attack as he recorded a double-double 18 points, 15 boards, 3 assists, while Danny Granger had 15 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block. T.J. Ford scored 15 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 rebound, Travis Diener came off the bench with 13 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal. Former Hoyas center Roy Hibbert added 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist.

LeBron James led all players with 47 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. Mo Williams scored 15 points, and had 6 rebounds, while Zydrunas Ilgauskas recorded a double-double, 10 points, 11 boards, 3 blocks, and 1 steal. Indiana improves to 21-32 Cleveland is now 39-11.

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