PACERS 'PLAY HARD' IN CAVS WIN

With 'connected defense', Indiana end the NBA leaders' 12-game winning run

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Despite losing Tyrese Haliburton due to hamstring tightness, the Indiana Pacers used a balanced offense and a "connected" defense to end the hosts Cleveland Cavaliers' 12-game National Basketball Association (NBA) winning streak with a 108-93 victory on Jan 12.

Andrew Nembhard led the way with 19 points, Pascal Siakam added 18 points and nine rebounds, and Myles Turner recorded a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double for Indiana.

"There was nothing to lose, this is the best team in the league right now," Nembhard said of the Cavaliers on the FanDuel Sports Network.

"We had to play hard, play together, and put some more physicality in the game on the defensive side of the ball, and play off of that.

"We were connected (on defense). We didn't fool around, even when we made mistakes, we helped out each other, and just made the next play."

The Pacers were down 13 points coming out of half-time and did not have Haliburton for the second half. But, with six Indiana scorers recording at least 11 points, the Pacers came up with the right offensive formula to complement an outstanding showing on the other end of the floor. They outscored Cleveland 68-40 in the second half.

Said Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson: "What disappointed me was our first half was phenomenal, defensively, and then the second half, we fell off. So, we couldn't sustain our defense. Just disappointed."