Feb 15, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyle Korver (26) shoots over Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 113-104. Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
CLEVELAND — Kyle Korver scored 22 points off the bench Wednesday and became the seventh player in NBA history to make 2,000 3-pointers as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Indiana Pacers 113-104.
LeBron James scored 31 points for his 13th 30-point game of the season, and Kyrie Irving scored 26 points and passed for seven assists for Cleveland. Korver’s dominance over the Pacers, though, was somehow even more impressive than James and Irving, both of whom are heading to New Orleans now for Sunday’s All-Star game.
Korver shot 6 of 8 on 3-pointers Wednesday, including a heave from 31 feet midway through the third quarter. It splashed through the net just like the rest of them. Korver scored 13 points in the fourth quarter and made 14 of 17 from deep in two games against the Pacers over the course of the last week.
The Cavs went into the All-Star break on a three-game streak and winners of seven of their last eight. They have the best record in the East at the break for the second consecutive season despite playing most of the half without J.R. Smith and recently losing Kevin Love to knee surgery. Still, they have persisted.
The Pacers, meanwhile, followed a seven-game win streak with a five-game losing streak. They still have one more to go Thursday against the Washington Wizards as they try to snap a three-game losing streak at home before entering the break.
Jeff Teague recorded 15 points and 11 assists and Glenn Robinson III scored 19 points for the Pacers. Paul George scored 13, but missed 12 consecutive shots until making a 3-pointer with 5:15 left after the game was already out of reach. Prior to that, George’s last basket was a driving layup to put the Pacers ahead 22-15 with 4:52 left in the first quarter.
The Cavs already matched their win total from January, when they limped through a 7-8 month that included James ripping the organization and everyone else in his path. Now they’re 7-1 in February with four games left following the break.
Tristan Thompson scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds and Channing Frye had eight rebounds in his second start in place of Love, who remains in New York rehabbing from knee surgery.
Myles Turner had 15 points and seven rebounds for the Pacers and Monta Ellis scored 14 points off the bench.
NOTES: Pacers F/C Lavoy Allen missed his second straight game with a sore right knee. He participated in pregame drills, but couldn’t play. … Pacers coach Nate McMillan said Kevin Love’s absence is minimized for the Cavs because LeBron James is still healthy. “LeBron’s not out. It’s a very talented team,” McMillan said. “They lose some key guys. They’re not stressing about that. It’s still the regular season and they feel they can get through this next month or so with the group they have. LeBron and Kyrie are still major, major factors on that team.” … The Cavs improved to 16-1 when Kyrie Irving scores at least 25 points and passes for at least five assists. … Tristan Thompson remains 11 blocks shy of passing Jim Brewer for ninth place on the franchise’s all-time list after not recording one Wednesday.
