NBA Game Summary - Cleveland at Indiana

11.24.2005

Indianapolis, IN (Basketball News) - Ron Artest’s 21 points led a group of six Pacers that scored in double figures, as Indiana thumped the Cleveland Cavaliers, 98-76, at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Sarunas Jasikevicius added 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting — including 5-of-6 from three-point range — for the Pacers, who have won three in a row. Jermaine O’Neal tallied 15 points and nine boards and Stephen Jackson had 14 points for Indiana, which has won three straight and 12 of 15 versus Cleveland.

Artest also shined on the defensive end, holding Cavs guard LeBron James to just 6-of-20 shooting.

James ended with 19 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 7-of-11 from the free throw line for the Cavs, who had an eight-game winning streak come to an end. Drew Gooden added 16 points for Cleveland, which last lost on November 5 at Memphis.

Cleveland held its last lead of the game in the early stages of the first quarter when Gooden hit a basket for a 9-8 lead. Then, with the game tied at 11-11 and five minutes left in the opening stanza, Indiana went on a 14-4 run to end the quarter and take a 25-15 lead into the second.

Artest and Austin Croshere each had five points during the run for the Pacers, who continued to pull away in the second. Still leading by 10 points, 27-17, an 8-2 burst extended the Pacers’ advantage to 16 points.

Indiana extended that advantage to 17 points, 47-30, at halftime.

Cleveland struggled in the opening 24 minutes, shooting just 25 percent from the field. James’ shooting woes led the way for the Cavs. He missed his first eight shots from the floor, ending the first half just 1-for-9 for four points.

The Cavs never recovered from the poor first half. Cleveland never got any closer than 13 points, falling behind by as many as 24 points.

Indiana led 68-52 after three quarters and cruised through the final 12 minutes.

Jamaal Tinsley’s 11 points and Croshere’s 10 rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Pacers, who shot 49.4 percent from the floor for the game.

Cleveland ended shooting just 37.7 percent from the floor.

Tinsley added seven assists and Croshere had six rebounds...Indiana hit 11- of-18 three-pointers compared to 4-for-16 for the Cavs...The Cavs outscored the Pacers by 11 at the free throw line.

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