Thursday, 7 Dec 2023

Pacers one step closer to shocking the world

Tyler Smith April 20, 2018 0

By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor

Bojan Bogdanovic scored a game-high 30 points in the Pacers Game 3 win.
(Photo by NBAE/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS —  One year ago, LeBron James and the Cavaliers put together a huge comeback victory in Game 3 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse- a game that still gives Pacer fans nightmares.

This time, it was the Pacers turn.

Indiana fought back from a huge deficit, as they’ve done all season long, to defeat Cleveland by a final score of 92-90.  They now have a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven series.

The story wasn’t Victor Oladipo (5-of-15 shooting, 1-of-8 from three)
The story wasn’t taking care of the basketball. (17 Pacer turnovers)

The story was Bojan Bogdanovic.

Bogdanovic had a season-high 30 points, played very solid defense on LeBron James, and connected on 7-of-9 from behind the arc.  He kept the Pacers afloat when nobody else was scoring early, and then he hit the game’s biggest shots in the final quarter.

“Incredible,” said Victor Oladipo of his teammate. “He did an incredible job for us on both ends of the floor.  When he’s playing like that, it opens it up for everybody.”

Lance Stephenson agreed: “He did an excellent job on both ends.  I give him a 100 on the test.  We need him all series. We’ve all go to work together. It’s a team effort.”

Before the series, we wrote that Bogdanovic might be the key to the Pacers playoff hopes.  In Game 3, he did everything he possibly could to help the Pacers win.

“I’ve been scoring all my life,” Bogdanovic said. “When I see shots going in, it gives me extra energy to be even more aggressive on the defensive end.  To be in a playoff and be up 2-1 against the best player in the world, to get all the support we got from our fans, is such amazing.”

This season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were 40-0 when leading after three quarters.  LeBron James just doesn’t lose when he’s got a lead late in games.  Except for Friday night.  He also doesn’t lose first round games.  Except for this series.

After trailing 57-40 at halftime, the Pacers outscored Cleveland 23-12 in the third quarter to cut the lead to six.  They took their first lead with six minutes left in the game, and pushed to lead to seven.  After some late 3’s by the Cavs, all of Bankers Life Fieldhouse and the state of Indiana held their collective breath, as J.R. Smith missed a long three at the buzzer to give the Pacers the win.

“It’s just one game,” said Victor Oladipo.  He’s said that at least 30 times this season after a big win OR loss.  “It’s a long series. Can’t wait for Sunday.”

LeBron James played 42 minutes and put up his usual numbers (28 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists), but also committed six turnovers.

He was repeatedly asked if he’s getting enough help from this teammates.  “You guys trying to get me to throw my teammates under the bus?  I’m not about that.  Guys need to play better. Myself included.  I was horrible in the third quarter, and six turnovers in the game. We can all be better.”

The Pacers have looked like the better team in all three games of this series.  They haven’t played their best basketball, and they still lead 2-1.  Sunday night, Bankers Life Fieldhouse might be even rowdier for Game 4, as the Pacers look to get one step closer in their quest to shock the world.

 

 

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