Danny Granger scored 34 points on 13-of-21 shooting, and the Indiana Pacers notched a rare win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 99-85, at Quicken Loans Arena.
Roy Hibbert added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Pacers, who had lost 16 of their last 19 meetings with the Cavaliers and 11 of the last 13 in Cleveland, although that team boasted new Heat forward LeBron James. Without James, Indiana was able to hold the Cavs to only 31 second-half points.
Mike Dunleavy contributed with 20 points in the win.
Antawn Jamison scored 19 to lead Cleveland, which has lost two straight after a three-game win streak. Ramon Sessions added 17 points, while Daniel Gibson and J.J. Hickson recorded 15 and 12 points, respectively, in defeat.
The game was tied at halftime, and Indiana came out firing to start the second half, making its first four shots during a 9-2 burst that ended with Dunleavy’s basket for a 63-56 lead.
The Pacers continued to play frontrunner for the entire third quarter, and Cleveland scored just 14 points in the frame. Gibson’s three in the final moments allowed the Cavs to cut their deficit to 73-68 heading to the fourth.
Jamison pulled Cleveland to within 75-72 on a jumper in the first two minutes of the fourth, but back-to-back three-pointers by Granger and Dunleavy put Indiana ahead by nine with just over nine minutes to play.
The Cavs seemed to halt the momentum with another Jamison basket, but the Pacers scored the next six points, with Hibbert’s seven-footer providing an 87-74 cushion with 6 1/2 minutes to play.
Cleveland didn’t get closer than eight the rest of the way.
Cleveland held a slim 30-26 advantage after the first quarter, but Indiana came back to tie the game, 54-54, at halftime.
Mo Williams (groin) and Anderson Varejao (ribs) both sat out for Cleveland…The Pacers went 17-for-17 from the free throw line…The Cavs shot a dismal 2-for-15 from three-point range, while Indiana shot 10-for-25.