Pacers edge slumping Cavaliers

INDIANAPOLIS – When Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan went small Friday night, Lance Stephenson came up big.

He baited LeBron James into a late technical foul. He made play after play down the stretch and when the game was over the Pacers’ showman was celebrating.

Stephenson had 16 points and 11 rebounds to help Indiana erase a 22-point, first-half deficit and beat Cleveland 97-95. It’s the Pacers’ third win this season over the three-time defending Eastern Conference champs.

“It feels good, but it’s a long season,” a more subdued Stephenson said in the locker room. “They’re a tough team but we came out and played smart defense and made the right plays.”

It was a stunning twist, coming almost exactly nine months after the Cavs rallied from a 26-point deficit on the same court to beat Indiana in the playoffs.

This time, the Pacers handed Cleveland a third straight confounding loss. The first two came by a combined 62 points and on Friday the Cavs were outscored 84-61 over the final three quarters on the second night of back-to-back road games.

Stephenson had plenty of help. Darren Collison scored 22 points and Victor Oladipo had 19.

But the guy with a knack for getting inside opponents’ heads with unthinkable stunts, like blowing in James’ ear or giving him a thumb in the side – as television replays showed during the game – played the instigator perfectly.

In other results, Charlotte trounced Utah, 99-88; Washington subdued Orlando, 125-119; Brooklyn repulsed Atlanta, 110-105; Golden State routed Milwaukee, 108-94; Minnesota crushed New York, 118-108; New Orleans turned back Portland, 119-113; Houston downed Phoenix, 112-95; and Denver clipped Memphis. 87-78.

Back in Indianapolis, James had 27 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and was called for a technical foul after reacting to Stephenson’s jab by shoving him in the chest. Oladipo made the free throw to give Indiana an 84-82 lead with 7:53 to go, a costly point.