NBA – The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of their own 1st round match of the post season at Quickens Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Cavs regains the home court advantage after winning Game 4 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Downtown Indianapolis and now will have their chance again to lead the series in front of their crowd in a very critical Game 5.
Currently the series is tied at 2 – 2 apiece. Pacers draw first blood after winning Games 1 and 3, while the Cavaliers won Game’s 2 and 4. Winner of Game 5 will take a 3 -2 advantage and one win away from advancing to the 2nd round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.
In the 1st quarter the Pacers are much in control of the game taking the first double digit lead of the game 25 – 15 under 2:25 to go quarter, but LeBron James lead his team in a solo 8 – 0 run to cut the Pacers lead into 2 points to end the quarter 25 – 23. Victor Oladipo had 6 points in the quarter, while LeBron James exploded for 14 points.
In the 2nd quarter, the Cavs made the first basket to tie the game in a 10 – 0 run while LeBron is resting on the bench, the Cavs regains the lead under 10 minutes to go in the quarter 29 – 28, just up by 1 point. Pacers able to back their lead to 9 points several times while in much control for most of the quarter. Pacers lead the Cavs 56 – 49 up by 7 points at the half.
At the half, LeBron James leads the Cavs with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists while Domantas Sabonis leads the Pacers in scoring with 12 points, Victor Oladipo has 9 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assist.
In the 3rd quarter, Cavs starts the quarter strong in a 9 – 0 run to regain the lead back 58 – 56, unlike the first four games Cavs starts the quarters slow but this time it went differently. Cavs control the quarter and able to take their biggest lead 78 – 66 up by 12 points with under 2 minutes to go. Cavs outscored the Pacers 32 - 17 while LeBron James has already 35 points at the end of the 3rd.
At the start of the 4th quarter, Cavs is enjoying an 8 point lead 81 – 73, but the Paces have battled back in the game and able to tie the game at 95 – All with 33.6 to go in regulation. But LeBron James would not be deny of taking Game 5 after hitting a buzzer beating 3’s to win the game 98 – 95.
The Cavaliers takes a 3 -2 lead in the series and one win away into the 2nd round match of the 2018 NBA Playoffs. LeBron James finish the game with 44 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assist.