Pacers hold Cavaliers to 23 points in second half

• Indiana Pacers came back from 16-point deficit to beat Cleveland Cavaliers 96-81

INDIANAPOLIS — Stay poised.

That's what the Indiana Pacers kept telling themselves as they faced a 16-point deficit to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second quarter.

Don't try to get it all back at one time because that's not their style. Buckle down defensively, continue to push the ball for easy baskets in transition, be willing to make the extra pass in the halfcourt on offense and gradually chip away at the Cavaliers' lead.

To think the Pacers would be able to maintain that mindset seemed almost laughable a few weeks ago. But knowing they're at the point in the season in which they need to string together some victories to clear the .500 mark, the Pacers stayed together.

Their desire to not fold paid off, as the Pacers used an 18-0 run that stretched from late in the second quarter into the third quarter to come away with what turned out to be an easy victory, 96-81 Wednesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

"Our guys started getting a little frustrated (in the first half)," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "We felt like we were better than that. The answer to situations like that is to not get tighter, more frustrated. The answer is to stay calm and make mental adjustments and focus on each possession."

The Pacers couldn't defend the three-point shot — or guard C.J. Miles — in the first half. They locked in and made shooting miserable for the Cavaliers in the second half.

The Pacers held to Cavaliers to 19.5 percent shooting and 23 points in the final 24 minutes.

"We just had the mind frame that we had to take bits and pieces here and there," Pacers forward David West said. "We did a good job closing the first half, getting the game within striking range going into the third quarter. And we carried things over into the second half."

The Pacers (11-11) needed this victory. The days of making excuses about their play are no longer acceptable.

The time has come to make a run at putting some distance between them and a .500 record.

They're in the midst of playing seven of 12 games at home.

"It's real important," Pacers swingman Paul George said. "We lost a lot of games early on that we should have won. We have to get away from the .500 mark 'cause the schedule has shifted in our favor some after being on the road a lot early on."

The Pacers didn't play with the sense of urgency expected of a team hoping to get things on track early.

They instead made Miles look like one of the premier shooters in the NBA.

Miles, who entered the game averaging 8.4 points, scored 16 of his team's first 18 points.

The Cavaliers kept scoring in the second quarter.

They eventually got their lead up to 16 points before momentum swung in the Pacers' favor.

The Pacers closed the first half on a 9-0 run to trim a 15-point deficit to 58-52.

They weren't done with the run.

The Pacers scored the first nine points of the third quarter to make it an 18-0 run and took a 61-58 lead.

The Cavaliers missed 10 straight shots during that stretch, and Pacers point guard George Hill scored 10 of his 18 points in the third quarter.

George had another solid game, finishing with 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting.

The Pacers had to play most of the second half without Lance Stephenson, who went down with a sprained right ankle early in the third quarter on a drive-and-kick pass to George for a 3-pointer.

Stephenson had a walking boot after the game and Vogel said he doubts his starting shooting guard will play Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Miles scored 23 points in the first half, but he was limited to five points on 2-of-7 shooting in the second half.

"Good win for our club," Vogel said. "We really buckled down defensively in the second half. Very proud of our effort there. Paul George continues to show the consistency that we believe he has. He's becoming a special player. We have to hope that continues."

Mike Wells writes for The Indianapolis Star.