Point guard's absences leaves Lance Stephenson to lead Pacers past Cavs

Saturday, November 2, 2013
Pacers forward Paul George throws down a dunk between Cavaliers defenders Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Lance Stephenson tied a career-high with 22 points and made five 3-pointers to help lead the Pacers past Cleveland on Saturday, 89-74.

Stephenson's aggressive, consistent game wouldn't have been possible at this time last year when the guard was coming off the bench. Now in his fourth season, Stephenson took over as starter in the seventh game last season and has thrived in the new roll, coming into his own with a complete game against the Cavaliers.

"We feel very confident and we believe we can be that team this year, and we've shown it every game," Stephenson said. "I've been working on my three-ball and it's been successful so far. I just want to keep knocking down those 3s because it opens the drive up for me."

Starting point guard George Hill missed the game with a sore left hip so C.J. Watson, in his first year with the team, made his first start of the season. Watson's skills and knowledge of the offense left him as more of a shooter, rather than the ball-handler Hill is, so Stephenson, Paul George and David West alternately facilitated the offense.

As a team, the Pacers (3-0) assisted on 67 percent (24-of-32) of their field goals, led by Watson with six. George and Stephenson had three each.

"I'm a big find-the-pass, make-the-pass guy," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "Paul George and Lance are the guys that really drove the ship tonight."

Indiana's defense limited the Cavs (1-2) to just 34.9 percent shooting and 3-for-15 from three.

George, a phenomenal player on both ends, is among the elite defenders in the league. He started the game guarding Cavs small forward Earl Clark, a non-threat offensively in a matchup that mostly wasted George's talent. Eventually the Pacers all-star switched to second-year guard Dion Waiters and, on the final possession of the first half when the Pacers wanted one final stop, point guard Kyrie Irving.

Waiters made only 7-of-21 field goals and Irving, guarded primarily by Watson, Stephenson and No. 3 point guard Donald Sloan, was 6-for-17.

"(They) did a good job limited Kyrie and not being exposed," Vogel said. "These guys can all defend and play within the system."

The Pacers went nine players deep in the second half, starting the fourth with lineup of Stephenson and four reserves.

With George and West on the bench, Stephenson took control the action and Vogel seemed mildly OK with the decision. On the court with four backups, the Cavs were called for a technical foul and Stephenson, a 65 percent free throw shooter last year, took it upon himself to step to the line.

"These guys know who the best free throw shooter is out there," Vogel said. "He wasn't the best percentage guy out there, but I saw him walking up there and, with his numbers where they are (this season), I want him to want the free throw.

"He walked up there and I said go ahead and shoot it. And make it."

Based on last season and career rates, Stephenson was the worst free throw shooter on the floor for the Pacers.

Stephenson looked over to Vogel and when he wasn't aggressively dissuaded, called for the ball and calmly missed the free throw attempt.

"I'd hit three 3s already and I felt like my jump-shot was on so I just felt like I could go to the line and hit it," Stephenson said. "I've just got to keep working on my free throws and get better every day."

Indiana's 3-0 start comes on the heels of Stephenson challenging the team to begin the season with 10 straight wins. Less than a week into the season, the Pacers are one of only two undefeated teams left in the Eastern Conference.

George finished with 21 points and a team-high 13 rebounds. Indiana out-rebounded Cleveland 51-37 and allowed just two second-chance points.

Stephenson is now averaging 19.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 threes this season.

"We're off to a strong start, and we've got to keep it going," Vogel said. "You want to compete for that 1-seed. You want to have home court throughout and there's some great teams out there that are in the way of that. ... It's going to be a battle."

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