Pacers and Cavaliers met Wednesday night at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
CINCINNATI — The Indiana Pacers made the journey southeast to Cincinnati for a preseason contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday. Most of the sellout crowd (10,250) were there to see LeBron James and company, but many also showed to see Xavier’s best player in program history — Pacers forward David West.
There was the obvious hype, and more than 100 media credentials were distributed — along with another 100 for Xavier folks, I was told.
Prior to the game, West, along with James Posey (once a Pacer and now an assistant for the Cavs) met at center court with honorary captain Chris Mack, the head coach of Xavier’s men’s basketball team.
Once the ball was tipped, it was on. The first play was indeed called for West, who hit a 10-foot fadeaway on the right side over Cavs newcomer Kevin Love. It was executed to perfection.
[David West returns to Xavier with Pacers in preseason tilt with Cavaliers]
West, who received loud cheers all night, scored a team-high 15 points on 7-of-18 shooting and he grabbed five rebounds in 28 minutes of work. The Pacers fell behind by as many as 17 points, but a late surge by the reserves knotted the game at 78. The Cavaliers fended off the Pacers, 98-93.
Chris Copeland nailed 4-of-6 field goals from deep and tallied 16 points, his first double-digit showing in three preseason appearances.
[PHOTOS: David West and the Pacers face the Cavaliers at Xavier]
David West back at his old locker.
Xavier meant a lot to West, without question. It’s the only school that offered him a scholarship and help shape him into who he is today. But he wasn’t getting too sentimental about the game ahead of time.
“I’m just not one of them,” he said pregame. “I’ve always appreciated my journey through here. This was a big spot for me, allowing me to grow and develop. It’s a part of who I am.”
Though the Cavaliers were the home team – they asked if they Pacers would be willing to schedule the game – Xavier made sure the Pacers were in the home locker room so that West would be at home.
And he was. At his old locker, actually.
Still, playing at a college campus and with a preseason roster, two players didn’t have lockers. That was young guns C.J. Fair and Adonis Thomas.
Many within the Pacers organization made the two-hour trip, including the team’s four-headed beast of a front office: Larry Bird, Donnie Walsh, Kevin Pritchard, and Peter Dinwiddie. Also here was Heather Denton and Carl Nicks of the player relations department, Dr. Tim Hupfer, and both the training and strength interns were treated to the trip.
The Pacers struggled when the starters were on the floor. Every team struggles to guard LeBron James, but they really did with Paul George sidelined. Usual starter C.J. Miles didn’t play (rest), and second-year wing Solomon Hill was first up on guarding James.
[Vogel provides update on Paul George, says he’s putting more pressure on his right leg]
It didn’t go so well. Not for him, Rodney Stuckey, Chris Copeland, Rodney Stuckey — simply everyone they through at him. His physicality is such a challenge, as is keeping him in front of you. James scored 26 points, connecting on 9-of-12 shots, and had four rebounds in three assists in just under 24 minutes.
When speaking of the matchup prior to the game, West said, “This will be a good gauge for us just to keep progressing forward.”
Vogel added: “I think on paper they’re the favorite.”
The Pacers, in “The Year of Discovery,” still have many items to address. It’s a work-in-progress.
They have three more preseason tune-ups before opening the regular season on Oct. 29 against Philadelphia. Next up: the Dallas Mavericks at 7 p.m. on Saturday.