CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers didn’t play their game, but they still found a way to beat the Indiana Pacers 111-107 Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
Despite coming out with no energy, giving up a season-high point total and getting outrebounded by 14 — it was the first time Cleveland lost the battle of the boards in 2008-09 — LeBron James and Co. somehow managed to win their third straight game.
“You’re not going to be able to play the way you want to every night,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. “At times, you’ve just got to figure out a way to win a ballgame. Our guys figured out a way. This was a game we might not have won in the past.”
In recording their eighth straight win over Indiana
(1-3), the Cavaliers (4-2) got some tremendous individual efforts, with James leading the way with 27 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four blocks.
“LeBron kicked it into gear,” Brown said. “The energy he brought to the table was tremendous. It gave everybody a lift.”
More importantly, James woke up after sleeping through most of the first half. He hit his first 3-pointer in 19 attempts this season to put the Cavaliers up seven with 1:15 to play, then came out of nowhere to block a T.J. Ford layup with his left hand to preserve a four-point lead with 40 seconds left.
“I started from way back,” James said of the pivotal block. “I don’t give up on plays.”
The Cavaliers also got a career-high 18 points from Anderson Varejao — he had 10 in the first 3:33 of Cleveland’s 40-point fourth period — and 21 points from Mo Williams. Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 17, with 14 coming in the first half to help keep Cleveland in the game, while Delonte West (12) and Wally Szczerbiak (11) gave the Cavaliers six players in double figures.
Danny Granger led Indiana with 33 points, while Marquis Daniels had 17 points, 11 boards and seven assists. Granger had 16 points in the first quarter and 21 at halftime, but James picked up his defensive intensity in the second half.
“For me, it’s just will,” James said. “I knew I wasn’t playing my best game, but I had enough energy to jump-start us.
“My energy is what sparks our team. If I’m out there lollygagging, our team tends to, too.”
James was sensational for a stretch in the third period, scoring nine points and assisting on two other buckets as the Cavaliers went on a 17-4 run to grab a 67-63 lead. Two of James’ hoops came on thunderous slams, followed by a nifty reverse in traffic and a rare successful jumper.
Just when it looked like Cleveland was taking control, however, the run-and-gun Pacers responded with a 9-0 spurt before settling for a 74-71 lead at the end of three.
That changed in the fourth quarter, when Varejao, who added eight rebounds, scored off steals, putbacks and free throws to give the Cavaliers the lead for good.
“He’s one of a kind,” James said. “He was unbelievable tonight.”
While being defended by James — actually, while not being defended by James — Granger had 12 points in the first 4:16 of the game as Indiana went up 16-6 right off the bat. Granger finished with 16 points in the first quarter, which ended with the Pacers up 29-20.
The only positive stretch for the Cavaliers came at the start of the second quarter, when they rallied behind Williams to outscore Indiana 13-0 with James sitting on the bench. Cleveland could not sustain that effort, however, and fell behind by five at intermission, at which time James was 3-of-9 from the field and 1-of-4 at the line.
The 6-foot-8, 250-pounder regrouped to go 8-of-15 from the field and 3-of-3 at the line after intermission, helping the normally defensive-minded Cavaliers win a shootout.
“These games right here are games we can’t afford to lose,” James said. “You look back at the end of the season and say, ‘We didn’t play our hardest.’
“We didn’t play our best. When you win games like this, it shows what type of team you are.”

Deal or no deal?

Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry and assistant Chris Grant were in deep conversation prior to the game, leading to speculation a trade might be in the works. That belief increased when Ferry did not watch the game from his normal perch outside the tunnel that leads to the locker room, but the GM said after the contest that nothing was afloat.
That being said, Antonio McDyess, traded along with Chauncey Billups from Detroit to Denver in the deal that brought Allen Iverson to the Pistons, is seeking a buyout from the Nuggets. Original reports said McDyess would then re-sign with Detroit — he’d have to wait 30 days to rejoin his former team — but numerous clubs have since expressed interest in the 13th-year pro.
It wouldn’t be shocking if the Cavaliers pursued the forward/center, who could be signed for the veteran minimum of about $1.2 million.

Tip-ins

Cleveland was 24-of-28 at the line compared to Indiana’s 11-of-11. “We shot 11 foul shots, they shot 28,” Pacers coach Jim O’Brien said. “With a very physical game and a team that takes it to the rack as much as we do, to only get to the line 11 times, I just shake my head. Incredible. Absolutely incredible. I just continue to shake my head over that one.”
• The Cavaliers were 24-of-41 from the field in the second half (.585).
• Cleveland, which recorded a season high in points, has now put up at least 100 points in three straight games. The last time it did that was from Nov. 24-27, 2007.
• Indiana’s Granger had his front teeth knocked out in a game against Boston this season, but didn’t miss any action. The Pacers called a timeout after the incident, allowing Granger to grab a mouthpiece and rejoin his teammates on the floor when play resumed.
• Friday was Cleveland rookie Darnell Jackson’s 23rd birthday. Jackson is currently sidelined with an injury to his left wrist.
Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rickn@ohio.net. 

Cavs 111, Pacers 107

INDIANA (107): Granger 13-21 2-2 33, Murphy 3-5 0-0 6, Foster 3-5 1-1 7, Ford 5-13 2-2 13, Daniels 7-18 3-3 17, Hibbert 4-9 3-3 11, Rush 3-9 0-0 7, Jack 3-7 0-0 7, Diener 2-3 0-0 6. Totals 43-90 11-11 107.
CLEVELAND (111): James 11-24 4-7 27, Wallace 0-1 0-0 0, Ilgauskas 5-9 7-8 17, M.Williams 6-14 7-7 21, West 5-8 0-0 12, Szczerbiak 3-4 4-4 11, Gibson 2-5 0-0 5, Varejao 8-12 2-2 18, Pavlovic 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 40-77 24-28 111.
Indiana        29   19    26    33    —    107
Cleveland    20   23    28    40    —    111
3-Point Goals—Indiana 10-26 (Granger 5-10, Diener 2-3, Ford 1-2, Rush 1-2, Jack 1-2, Murphy 0-1, Hibbert 0-2, Daniels 0-4), Cleveland 7-20 (West 2-4, M.Williams 2-5, Szczerbiak 1-1, Gibson 1-4, James 1-6). Fouled Out—Hibbert. Rebounds—Indiana 52 (Daniels 11), Cleveland 36 (James 9). Assists—Indiana 28 (Daniels 7), Cleveland 22 (James 8). Total Fouls—Indiana 25, Cleveland 19. Technicals—Indiana defensive three second 2. A—20,562 (20,562). 

TONIGHT

WHO: Cleveland at Chicago
TIME: 8:30
WHERE: United Center
TV/RADIO: FSN Ohio; WTAM 1100-AM

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