CLEVELAND (AP) -- Kyrie Irving scored 37 points, Kevin Love added 27 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avoided another fourth-quarter collapse in Game 2, beating the Indiana Pacers 117-111 on Monday night to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
After squeaking out the opener by a point, LeBron James and Co. showed more intensity on defense, more swagger in general and won their 10th straight first-round game over the past three seasons.
However, they nearly blew an 18-point lead in the fourth as the Pacers got within four before Cleveland closed it out at the line.
James added 10 rebounds and seven assists, but had eight of Cleveland's 19 turnovers.
McMillan: "I thought in the 3rd quarter, we just lost our composure." pic.twitter.com/kscCpZuZcw
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 18, 2017
Game 3 is Thursday night.
Paul George scored 32 and Jeff Teague 23 for Indiana, which showed more fight, but now has a steep hill to climb to get back in the series. Cleveland is 12-0 when starting 2-0 in the postseason.
The focus now is on protecting our home floor. pic.twitter.com/FztSTPwdGW
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 18, 2017
Gotta get Game 3 on Thursday.
Game 2 final score: Cavs 117, #Pacers 111@Yg_Trece 32p/8r@Teague0 23p/4a@yungsmoove21 16p/3r pic.twitter.com/bYEkrpoKL1
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 18, 2017
