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NBA scores: Cavaliers collapse in second half, lose to Pacers on Wednesday

The Cleveland Cavaliers looked good for two quarters on Wednesday, but they fell apart in the second half and lost to Paul George and the Indiana Pacers, 96-81.

USA TODAY Sports

Things looked promising for the Cleveland Cavaliers early during their game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, but everything collapsed in the second half and the Pacers pulled away for a 96-81 victory. The Cavs shot 47.5 percent from the field and turned the ball over just two times in the first half as they entered the intermission with a 58-52 lead. Then they came out flat in the final 24 minutes, shot 8-for-41 (19.5 percent) and turned the ball over 10 times while the Pacers outscored them 44-23 and emerged with the win.

C.J. Miles scored 23 of his game-high 28 points in the first half, and his 6-for-9 performance from deep helped keep the Cavs afloat, but Paul George stole the show. Geroge shot 10-for-18 and scored a team-high 27 points, and he added seven rebounds and three assists for good measure. His perimeter defense helped limit Cleveland's opportunities in the paint, and the big men for Indy finished the job by holding the Cavs to 3-of-16 shooting in the paint during the second half.

In other Central Division action the Chicago Bulls knocked off the Philadelphia 76ers (96-89 final score) and the Milwaukee Bucks handled the Sacramento Kings, 98-85. If you are curious about the circumstances that led to the photo posted at the top of this article, here's what happened on the floor:

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.