Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 takeaways from Game 5 vs. Pacers

3. Third quarter sparks the victory for Cleveland

Throughout the first half, the Pacers were playing with a level of energy that Cleveland simply wasn’t matching, as Indiana went into the break up seven points in a road game that would be a huge win if they could get it.

The Cavaliers would exceed that energy level in the third quarter, outscoring Indiana by a margin of 32-17 in the frame.

Especially at home, building up a lead after halftime can prove crucial in securing a victory. It gets the crowd amped up for the final frame and gives them home team some breathing room, while the opposing team has all the pressure resting firmly on its shoulders to not let the game get away.

Specifically, in this game, that third quarter run allowed LeBron James to steal a few minutes of rest on the bench to start the final quarter of play.

While it’s difficult to assess just how much those extra minutes played a difference in James’ play down the stretch, as the league leader in playoff minutes, getting LeBron any amount of rest certainly couldn’t hurt.

If Cleveland can build up another lead like this in Game 6, it’ll be able to play looser and with more freedom in the final frame in what is sure to be a tight matchup.