Live updates, highlights, jokes, and more from Cavs-Pacers

22 straight! But will the Pacers have anything to say about it?

Hello friends. It’s your buddy Mike, and I’ll be here all day with live updates and more from this Cavaliers-Pacers Game 1.

LeBron James has won 21 straight first-round games and has never lost a first-round series, but don’t underestimate Indiana. As Seerat Sohi wrote, the Pacers play free and loose. Don’t expect Victor Oladipo and company to lay down.

We get going at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Lance Stephenson is already in postseason form.

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Pacers 33, Cavaliers 14, end of first quarter

Hi yes I see that this is happened, but I’m a little behind after watching the end of the amazing Bucks-Celtics game. I’m coming back with updates as I catch up on my DVR.

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Pacers 18, Cavaliers 4, 4:30 left in 1st quarter

Tyronn Lue’s big playoff back-pocket adjustment to get the Cavaliers to defend moderately competently is to put LeBron James on Darren Collison to start possessions. I’m not sure what purpose this serves, because even if LeBron roams, Collison is a dead-eye three-point shooter.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers seem oddly prepared with Indiana’s strategy to put Bojan Bogdanovic on LeBron James and have Victor Oladipo roam in passing lanes. Weird, because that’s what the Pacers have been doing all season. After a rough Rodney Hood start, the Cavaliers put Kyle Korver in to try to make Oladipo honor him, but Korver started off cold.

The Cavs forced a couple early turnovers trapping Oladipo, including this George Hill slam.

But ... uh ... that did not continue to work. Indiana has been faster to the ball than its opponents all season, and the same is true during this amazing early run. Attempts to occupy Oladipo have not worked -- just look at him break up this two-on-one fast break.

The problem with Cleveland’s roaming strategy is that all five Pacer starters can shoot and attack. Asking LeBron to roam off someone he’s not guarding works best when LeBron’s man is not a threat. That player does not exist in the Pacers’ starting lineup, and because of that, any of Indiana’s five starters can easily attack the rim with no resistance.

So yeah. Bet you’re surprised.

Pregame

By Eric Stephen

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers figure to be a fun 4-5 matchup in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and LeBron James seeks to extend a remarkable playoff streak.

James, who has played in seven consecutive NBA Finals, has understandably been very effective in the first round of the playoffs, winning all 12 such series in his career, dating back to 2006. But in recent years he has been even more dominant in the opening round, winning 21 straight first-round playoff games.

His last first-round loss came with the Heat in 2012, losing Game 4 to the Knicks before closing out the series in five games. James in the first round of the playoffs is a remarkable 48-7 (.873).

Indiana was expected to be an also-ran this season, projected by Bovada during the preseason with an over/under of just 31½ victories. Instead they finished 48-34, good for the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Pacers even beat the Cavs in three of their four regular season matchups. But to continue that success this postseason and reach the second round for the first time in four years, Indiana will have to get past LeBron, which has proven to be damn near impossible for the last dozen years.

Cavaliers vs. Pacers Game 1 info

Location: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland

Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: ABC

Announcers: Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Lisa Salters

Online streaming: Watch ESPN