AP PhotoJoey Graham won't play tonight. INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Final observations from the Cavs game against the Pacers on Friday night in Conseco Fieldhouse: It's getting harder and harder to meet with coach Byron Scott and the Cavaliers after these games. There aren't really any questions left to ask. True, the Cavs played better in the last two games of...
Joey Graham won't play tonight.INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Final observations from the Cavs game against the Pacers on Friday night in Conseco Fieldhouse:
It's getting harder and harder to meet with coach Byron Scott and the Cavaliers after these games. There aren't really any questions left to ask. True, the Cavs played better in the last two games of this 10-game losing streak, but it seems once they go down by about 10 points, there's little chance of them coming back. Scott still is getting nothing from his bench _ J.J. Hickson did provide 11 points on Friday _ but unless he tries to play his starters all 48 minutes, I don't see where this losing streak ends. Logic tells you that the New York Knicks, who will visit The Q on Saturday night, could suffer a letdown in the wake of an emotional loss to visiting Miami on Friday night. But that's not how it has been working for the Cavs this season. The good news, I guess, is that the team does seem upbeat, so there has been some carryover from the strong performance in Miami. The question is: Will that last long enough for them to get a victory in the near future?
Final: Pacers 108, Cavs 99. Once again, the Cavaliers had no answer for Indiana's Danny Granger, who scored 30 points to lead the Pacers, who improved to 12-13.
Cleveland lost its 10 straight game to fall to 7-19. It's the Cavs longest losing streak since they lost 15 straight near the start of the 2002-03 season, the year before LeBron james arrived.
Mo Williams had 22 points and 11 assists for the Cavs, who threw in the towel early. Down 14 with 2:15 left, coach Byron Scott sent rookies Manny Harris and Samardo Samuels in with Jamario Moon.
Third quarter update: Pacers 84, Cavs 74. Unlike Wednesday night in Miami, when the Cavs hit key shots to stay close, they can't cut into Pacers lead, and they're not making free throws either (21 of 28.) Injuries and foul trouble are forcing coach Byron Scott's hand, and he's having to go deeper into his bench than he wanted to tonight. The Cavs are playing hard enough, but they seem to have lost the edge they had against the Heat. Probably not surprising, but disappointing if they're ever to end this losing streak.
Halftime update: Pacers 53, Cavs 48. After a close first half, the Pacers inched in front behind back-to-back 3-pointers by Mike Dunleavy and James Posey to close out the second quarter. For the most part, Cavs defense has kept Danny Granger in check, and he has 15 at halftime. That's an off night for him against the Cavs. Anthony Parker has made 4-of-4 3-pointers and has 15 points. He's also defending Granger. At least the Cavs are still in this, which couldn't be said in their last visit on Nov. 23.
First quarter update: Cavs 23, Pacers 19. It appears the Cavs brought their intensity and defense with them from Miami, as they limited the Pacers to 36.4 percent shooting in the first quarter. Of particular note is the fact that Cavs killer Danny Granger has just four points, thanks to some tough defense by Anthony Parker, who also leads the Cavs with six points _ on two 3-pointers.
Cavs starters: F Anthony Parker, F Antawn Jamison, C Anderson Varejao, G Daniel Gibson, G Mo Williams.
Pacers starters: F Danny Granger F Josh McRoberts, C Roy Hibbert, G Darren Collison, G Mike Dunleavy.
Injuries: Joey Graham (strained right quad) is out for Cavs. None for Pacers.
Inactives: Christian Eyenga, Graham, Leon Powe for Cavs. Paul George, A.J. Price, Lance Stephenson for Pacers.
Officials: Bill Kennedy, Nick Buchert, Leroy Richardson.
Three things to watch
1. Can the Cavs recapture the intensity they had at Miami on Wednesday and finally give the Pacers a game?
2. How will the loss of two of their most physical defenders _ Joey Graham (strained right quad) and Leon Powe (right middle finger gash) _ impact the Cavs?
3. Will Danny Granger dominate them again?
Forward Joey Graham will miss tonight's game against the Pacers in Conseco Fieldhouse with a right quad injury, coach Byron Scott said at Friday's shootaround.
Graham missed time during training camp with a similar injury and aggravated it when he tackled Dwyane Wade and the two fell into the stands during Wednesday's loss in Miami.
It's a bit of a setback for the Cavs, who could have used Graham's physical defense against Pacers forward Danny Granger, always a tough cover for Cleveland.
Scott, who has shortened his rotation to eight players as the Cavs try to snap their nine-game losing streak, said he still intended to play about eight players against the Pacers. Graham's minutes likely will go to Jawad Williams.
Meanwhile, Scott said Jamario Moon would be activated for the game. Moon has been inactive since Scott took him out of the starting lineup against Chicago on Dec. 8.