Event of the Day: Indiana Pacers versus Cleveland Cavaliers
Our event of the day is Game 3 of the Round One NBA Playoffs Series between the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. After the first two games in Cleveland, the series between the Central Division rivals is tied at 1-1. The Pacers, fifth in the Eastern Conference after the regular season with a 48-34 record, took the lead on Sunday with a convincing 98-80 win in which shooting guard Victor Oladipo impressed, scoring 32 points and six three-pointers.
The Cavaliers, who clinched the Division title and entered the playoffs from the fourth spot in the East, responded on Wednesday night to even the series with a narrow 100-97 victory, thanks to the unstoppable LeBron James who scored a stunning 46 points and had 12 rebounds. Cleveland’s small forward, winner of three NBA Championships (including one with the Cavs in 2016) and Finals MVP on each occasion his team won the championship, will need to step up and take responsibility again for his side to take control of the series. Center Kevin Love, who added 15 points and eight rebounds on Wednesday, should be ready to give his contribution again, although he suffered a thumb injury late on in Game 2. Indiana won three of their four regular season meetings with Cleveland, including two tight home wins – 106-102 in December and 97-95 in January. Hosts’ point guard Darren Collison will be looking to find more space to shoot for three pointers, as he had the league’s best three point percentage of 46.8% in the regular season. Who will take the series lead between the Pacers and the Cavaliers? Find out tonight.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Adelaide Crows at Sydney Cricket Ground. After four rounds, the Swans are sixth in the ladder with 12 points, while the Crows are ninth with eight points. In MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. It’s Day 6 of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters tournament from the ATP Tour at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Monaco. In the Indian Premier League, the Chennai Super Kings come up against the Rajasthan Royals at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Ground in Pune. It’s the second day of the PGA Tour Valero Texas Open at the TPC San Antonio and the European Tour Trophée Hassan II at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco. In the European Challenge Cup semi-final, Gloucester clash with the Newcastle Falcons at Kingsholm in Gloucester. Additionally in the NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks encounter the Boston Celtics at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee. In the NRL, the Broncos welcome the Storm to the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane; while in the Super League, the Wigan Warriors go head-to-head with the Castleford Tigers at the DW Stadium in Wigan. In the 2018 Volvo Ocean Race, there is an in-port race in the port of Itajaí in Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by NBA