If the NBA Lead Tracker from the Knicks-Celtics game on Monday looked crazy, the one from the Pacers-Cavs game from Tuesday night is scarcely believable.
The only thing that makes it look vaguely sane is that you can’t easily see that Indiana won.
To say Cleveland had this game under control would be an understatement. Losing the game at all from such a commanding position would be a blow. Losing it despite having built that position without the injured Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter and Evan Mobley would hurt even more.
Going down by one point (120-119) on the last shot of the game by – that man again – Tyrese Haliburton would be a sickener.
Adding all of the above to the fact that the loss resulted in the Cavs going down 0-2 in the series before heading to Indiana and it’s difficult to imagine a more deflating night.
Cleveland’s Head Coach Kenny Atkinson was deservedly named the 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year on Monday. He’s going to need to call on all his skill and experience to lift his team quickly if they are to have any chance of avoiding a disappointing play-off exit.
Whether his continued criticism of the officials is going to help or not remains to be seen.
From Deep UK 
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