The Cleveland Cavaliers never knew what hit them.
They couldn’t match the Indiana Pacers’ intensity, and they’re now facing a series deficit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Pacers shot 53.0 percent from the floor and 52.8 percent from beyond the arc in their Game 1 victory.
They also went to the line 15 times and missed one free throw.
However, as much as the Cavs’ defense struggled to settle in, head coach Kenny Atkinson believes their offense failed to get the job done as well.
“Our offense let us down,” Atkinson said, via Cleveland.com.
The Cavs actually shot well from the floor overall (45.9 percent) but struggled from 3-point territory.
They knocked down just nine of their 38 attempts from beyond the arc, and though there should be some positive regression to the mean, it’s worrisome nonetheless.
The Cavs tried to establish position down low and scored 70 points in the paint, almost twice as many as the Pacers (38).
But those numbers don’t help when you’re trading 2s for 3s.
All things considered, the Pacers didn’t necessarily dominate this game.
It took 29 missed 3-pointers, five missed free throws, and Darius Garland being out in order for Indiana to win by nine, and Cleveland never trailed by more than 12 points.
The Cavs also took solid care of the ball, with just eight turnovers.
Not having Garland on the court will certainly mess with the offensive rhythm, and the Cavs will have to find a way to slow down Tyrese Haliburton and his electric playmaking.
It was a disappointing way to open the series for Cleveland, but this is just getting started.
NEXT: Insider Reveals What Went Wrong For Cavs In Game 1
