But with a highly motivated James on board, the Cavs are sure to be a different team in the postseason, just as they were down the stretch of the season. But James got little help as Cleveland’s four other starters — Kevin Love, Jeff Green, Rodney Hood and George Hill — combined for 25 points. For the second year in a row, the Cavaliers and Pacers are facing off in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but the result this time around might be different. But it’s also hard to figure how the Pacers will slow down James from night to night, and he should be able to break through enough to push Cleveland to four wins here.
The Indiana Pacers defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98–80 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series in Cleveland, snapping LeBron James' personal streak of 21 consecutive wins in the first round.