Short-handed Cavaliers can’t keep up Indy’s pace

Associated Press

Cleveland

The prospect of playing against LeBron James always brought out the best in Danny Granger.

James has moved on to Miami, but Granger still enjoys playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Granger scored 34 points and the Indiana Pacers beat the short-handed Cavaliers 99-85 on Saturday night, handing Cleveland a four-game home losing streak for the first time since March 2003.

Granger, who has had five career games of 30 or more points against Cleveland, made 13 of 21 shots from the field and was 5 of 8 on 3-pointers.

“I used to always get excited to play against LeBron so that always got me up and I had a good game,” Granger said. “Playing Cleveland now, I guess it’s just a bunch of good games.”

With James, the Cavaliers were 74-8 at home over the previous two seasons, but it’s been a different story so far in 2010. Cleveland beat Boston in this season’s opener at Quicken Loans Arena, but have since lost to Sacramento, Atlanta, New Jersey and Indiana.

Starters Mo Williams (strained left groin) and Anderson Varejao (bruised ribs) were out for Cleveland. Their absence was noticeable, particularly in the second half.

The game was tied 54-all at halftime before the Pacers went on a 7-0 early in the third quarter, putting them ahead to stay. Back-to-back 3 pointers by Granger and Dunleavy early in the fourth quarter pushed Indiana’s lead to nine.

Cleveland coach Byron Scott has said he thinks his players are pressing too much when they play at home, but pinpointed a different reason for the latest loss.

“I thought we stopped playing and that’s two straight second halves,” Scott said.