Pacers final score: Cavaliers torch Pacers 113-104

The schedule continues to beat up the Indiana Pacers, now losers of five straight games after another loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite the latest loss, there were good things from the Pacers, but they had no way to match another onslaught from Kyle Korver and company.

Korver ended Indiana’s chances of winning the game, hitting a pair of threes to break an 83-83 tie early in the fourth. Korver hit six more threes tonight, scoring 13 points of his 22 points in the third. As a whole, the Pacers surrendered 18 three pointers on the night, erasing a solid 12-24 night from the three point range themselves.

The Pacers had a solid first quarter, getting 10 points from Paul George, but while LeBron James pieced together a 12-17 night for 31 points, George would blank from the field in the second and third quarters, dropping to 3-17 before hitting his only bucket in the second half, finishing with 13 points. Perhaps the task of having to guard James all night wore on George, but he missed not only jumpers, but layups around the rim and working to the line for only two attempts.

George’s struggled were made up for in some regards with the play of Glenn Robinson III, who followed up a scoreless outing against San Antonio with 19 points and six boards, hitting three three pointers, finishing off a furious third quarter close with an alley oop from Monta Ellis.

The assist was one of seven from Ellis, who led the bench with 14 points on 6-8 shooting, hitting both of his threes. The Pacers finished the night with 30 assists, led by Jeff Teague, who finished with a 15 point, 11 assist double double, but as has been part of the theme of this losing streak; the Pacers are playing well, but not well enough.

Indiana finished with the rebounding edge, pulling in 13 offensive rebounds, which doubled with assists, were two of Indiana’s best performances of the season. Unfortunately, in the face of Cleveland’s three point shooting and a 16-7 fast break advantage, Indiana was left taking on another loss, dropping them to 29-27 on the season, two losses from completely squandering their prior seven game winning streak.

The Pacers will get the pleasure of a back-to-back before they head into the All-Star break, hosting the Washington Wizards in another tough matchup tomorrow night. Indiana needs the time off, and a win would be big sigh of relief heading into the break.