Paul George scored a game-high 29 points but it was Solomon Hill and C.J. Miles off the bench that were especially key in the Pacers’ 123-109 victory Wednesday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“We’ve been having fun these past three or four days. That’s definitely been lost,” George said. “We haven’t been a group that’s been separated, but we haven’t had as (much) fun as we’ve had the last couple of games. That’s a great sign. A great sign going into the playoffs that the team is starting to jell, be together, and we’re enjoying what we’re doing.”
The Cavaliers, who are atop the Eastern Conference standings, had won their previous four games. Because they played — and won — Tuesday in Milwaukee, the team decided to sit LeBron James for rest purposes. He didn’t make his way out on the court until after the first quarter.
Hill, playing the 4, slowed Kevin Love and scored a season-high 15 points. The Pacers (42-36) are now ensured of a winning season for the fourth time in five years.
“My ability just to play defense and talk to guys, I think that sets up everything else,” Hill said. “Kevin Love got off to a hot start, I check in and I don’t think he scores again (in the quarter).”
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The Pacers, who shot 56.3 percent, managed 70 first-half points, their highest total in a half all season.
Both the Pacers and Detroit Pistons won, so the Pacers remain in seventh in the conference standings, a half game ahead of the Pistons (plus the tiebreaker) with four games to play.
Next up, Indiana travels to Toronto in what is a potential 2-7 first-round matchup.
Watch what Solomon Hill had to say: