Apr 27, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) shoots the ball as Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver (26) defends in the first quarter in game six against the Cleveland Cavaliers of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers annihilated the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-87 on Friday night in Game 6 of their first-round series, to keep their season alive, and force a Game 7.

The Pacers got a triple-double and 28 points from Victor Oladipo, and had double-digit scoring from seven different players. Meanwhile, the Cavs only got double-digit scoring by three players, and LeBron James (22 points) was the only one to score over 13 points.

Now, Game 7 will be in Cleveland, and the Cavs have LeBron James. It’s hard to bet against LeBron (as he reminded us in Game 5), and especially when talking a Game 7 in his arena.

But the Pacers flat-out have looked like the better basketball team in this series (and far and away the better basketball team if you took LeBron out of the conversation). While the series is even at 3-3, the Pacers hold a +44 advantage in point differential. Their confidence has to be sky-high right now.

This is certainly unusual early playoff territory for LeBron. In fact, this is his first-ever Game 7 in the first round of the playoffs.

Game 7 tips off on Sunday at a TBD time at Quicken Loans Arena.

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

1 thought on “Pacers embarrass Cavs to force Game 7, and have to feel pretty good about their chances

  1. “But the Pacers flat-out have looked like the better basketball team in this series…”

    All the LeBron fanboys can talk about how he’s the ‘greatest of all time … without question’ … but, the last time I checked, one man doesn’t win a title by himself. Even Michael Jordan needed Scotty Pippen, Dennis Rodman and other solid supporting players, which LeBron doesn’t seem to have in Cleveland. This is why the 76ers are a fun team to watch: even with studs like Simmons and Embiid, it’s the supporting cast – Reddick, Belinelli, Covington, Saric, McConnell, Fultz and others – that makes them a dangerous team who has as good of a chance, if not the best chance, of winning the East.

    That’s not to take away from LeBron as a player (not saying he’s GOAT, but he’s at least Top 3-5 all time), but if the other guys don’t step up, that’s not on LeBron.

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