Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers x-factors & advantages + impact of Darius Garland’s health
Darius Garland is still dealing with a toe injury but his status for the Cleveland Cavaliers series against the Indiana Pacers is still up in the air.
The Cavs don’t need DG o beat Indy, but it certainly helps.
Scott Agness, one of the top Pacers beat reporters in the country, joins Jason & McNuggets to break the entire series down.
The Cavs’ next playoff opponent is set. The only thing left to figure out is what time the series starts.
Top-seeded Cleveland will host the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with the best-of-seven series beginning Sunday at Rocket Arena. The official time has not yet been announced, as other postseason results will play a role in the schedule.
Indiana stunned Milwaukee in Game 5 of the first round Tuesday night, rallying from a 20-point deficit to win in overtime, 119-118. The Pacers capped their improbable comeback by scoring the final eight points.
The 50-win Pacers, who advanced to the conference finals last spring and followed that up with a 50-win campaign, won the season series, 3-1. They were one of four teams to beat the 64-win Cavs at least twice.
But one of those victories came in the finale — an afternoon where the Cavaliers rested all of their rotational regulars aside from starting center Jarrett Allen, who logged about a minute to preserve his 82-games-played streak.
