Doggone it! Cavaliers fall to Pacers in OT, eliminated from playoff hunt

Associated Press

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One of Indiana’s players wrestled Cleveland’s furry mascot before the game. The Pacers then had to fight off the spunky Cavaliers.

Danny Granger made a 3-pointer in overtime and scored 23 points, and George Hill made a dagger 3-pointer in the extra session, lifting Indiana to a 104-98 victory on Wednesday night and allowing the Pacers to hold onto the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference for one more day.

David West added 19 points, Hill had 17 and Roy Hibbert finished with 11 rebounds, five assists and four blocks for Indiana, 6-1 in its last seven.

The Pacers outscored the Cavs 10-4 in OT and stayed just ahead of Boston, Atlanta and Orlando in the standings.

This was a dogfight — playfully and literally.

During pregame introductions, West got into a mock fight with Moondog, the Cavs’ floppy-eared mascot, who often interacts and teases opposing players.

West accidentally struck the character in the mask, sending him to the hospital with an eye injury.

“I feel terrible about that, I really do,” said West, who was visibly upset. “We were just having fun. We were just messing around. I really hope he’s OK. Make sure he knows I’m sorry.”

A Cavs spokesman said the mascot was checked out and released.

Antawn Jamison scored 21 and Lester Hudson 19 for the Cavs, who dropped to a league-worst 0-5 in overtime games.

The Cavs, who were just 2 of 9 in the extra five minutes, were officially eliminated from the playoffs.

“We fought hard,” Hudson said. “We played very hard, but we just came up a little short.”