Road-weary Pacers try to fix issues in Cleveland

Basketball Betting Lines

03/17/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An Indiana Pacers team that's had its share of troubles on the road will face another tough challenge in tonight's visit to Quicken Loans Arena for a bout with the NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Pacers have lost eight in a row as the visitor since a 125-115 decision over Houston on February 20 and own a poor 7-29 road record for the season. Indiana's winless drought has been even longer in Cleveland, where the club hasn't bested the Central Division-rival Cavs since a double-overtime triumph on November 3, 2004.

Cleveland has downed the Pacers nine straight times at Quicken Loans Arena and has taken three straight and 12 of the last 13 overall matchups between the teams as well. Two of those wins took place in Indianapolis earlier this season.

The Cavaliers also boast one of the league's top home marks at 29-4 and enter tonight's tilt on a four-game winning streak following Tuesday's 113-101 victory at Detroit, which pushed Cleveland's lead over Orlando for the top spot in the Eastern Conference to a comfortable six games.

As usual, LeBron James led the way for the Cavs, with the reigning NBA MVP amassing 29 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds for his 28th career triple- double. Mo Williams chipped in 20 points in the win, while Antawn Jamison posted 15 points and 10 rebounds.

"A [triple-double] means you're doing everything that needs to be done to win a basketball game," James said. "It's one of the best things that you can have as an individual."

Cleveland trailed by a point entering the fourth quarter, but outscored the Pistons by a 38-25 margin in the final period to pull away. The Cavaliers made 5-of-9 shots from three-point range over that stretch.

The Pacers head to "The Q" on a somewhat positive note after holding on for a 99-94 win over visiting Charlotte last night. Danny Granger led the charge with 26 points and eight rebounds, but the standout forward was elbowed in the cheek in the final minute and is expected to sit out tonight's clash.

Indiana also received 16 points and 13 rebounds out of Troy Murphy in snapping a two-game slide, while Mike Dunleavy netted 15 points in only the team's second win in its last eight outings.

The Pacers entered the fourth quarter holding a 78-67 advantage, and the margin eventually swelled to 15 points on a Dunleavy triple near the midway point of the frame. The Bobcats would make a late comeback attempt, though, using a 9-0 run to pull within 97-94 with under a minute to go, but missed a pair of three-point tries in the waning seconds.

"Good win against a good basketball team," Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien said. We didn't execute down the stretch against pressure, but we'll take the W."

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