Paul George scored 16 points, Roy Hibbert scored in crucial possessions, and the Indiana Pacers held off a fourth quarter rally by the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers late rally for an 82-78 victory on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time).
A 16-point Pacer lead in the final period disappeared after Cavs guard Dion Waiters led a16-1 run that got the Cleveland to within a point, 75-74 with 3:35 remaining. Hibbert's free throw with 7.9 seconds left put the Pacers up 81-78, and Indiana got the ball back when Cleveland's Earl Clark stepped out on an inbounds pass 1 second later.
David West sealed the win with one free throw with the 5.4 seconds left and Indiana escaped with their seventh win in eight games for the league-leading Pacers (27-6).
Cleveland was led by C.J. Miles with 21 points and Waiters who scored 14. All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving missed his third straight game with a bruised left knee. Tristan Thompson added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
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