CLEVELAND -- Entering the 2018 NBA Playoffs, the Cleveland Cavaliers adopted the motto 'Whatever it Takes.'
The fans at Quicken Loans Arena must not have felt the team was living up to the mantra.
After entering halftime of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals trailing the Indiana Pacers by a score of 55-38, the Cavs only saw their gap widen in the early moments of the third quarter. Opening the second half with four straight points, Indiana forced Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue to call an early timeout, as boos from the sold-out crowd at The Q drowned out the referee's whistle.
Lue's timeout tactic initially appeared to have little-to-no effect, with Indiana maintaining a healthy lead through much of the third quarter. A late charge by the Cavs, however, would get Cleveland back into the game, with a Kevin Love 3-pointer trimming Indiana's advantage to seven points with a minute remaining the game.
The Cavs now enter the third quarter trailing 73-65 after ultimately closing the quarter on a 15-4 run.
All-Star guard Victor Oladipo has 22 points to go along with 5 rebounds, while center Myles Turner has added 16 points to Indiana's cause. LeBron James has 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting, to go along with 10 assists and 7 rebounds.
For continued live coverage throughout Game 1 as the Cavs attempt to mount a comeback, follow our live blog and join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #3Cavs.
