NBA Champions Rolling Once More

By ESPN

The Cavaliers are getting some down time. Not that they really want any right now.

After some disruptions and some drama, the NBA champions are rolling once more.

LeBron James scored 31 points, Kyrie Irving added 26, Kyle Korver made six 3-pointers as the Cavs reached the All-Star break with their seventh win in eight games, beating the Indiana Pacers 113-104 on Wednesday night.

Irving and Korver combined to make four 3s in the first 2:50 of the fourth quarter -- Korver finished with 22 points and became the seventh player with 2,000 career 3s -- and the Cavs, playing their second game without All-Star Kevin Love, pulled away and improved to 7-1 in February after a 7-8 January.

"This is the way we wanted to play coming into February and the guys are excellent so far in this month," James said. "It sucks because we have a great rhythm right now and you hate to have the break. But the break is going to be good for everybody. It gives guys an opportunity -- if they have some nicks and bruises and things of that nature. Just get away and decompress for a little bit, but we've been playing some good basketball."

And while his teammates will relax over the next few days, James and Irving are headed to New Orleans for Sunday's All-Star game.

At 39-16, and winners of three straight, Cleveland leads the Eastern Conference at the unofficial halfway point. The Cavs have endured their fair share of injuries already and won't be at full strength until Love (knee surgery) and J.R. Smith (thumb surgery) return.

That's still weeks away, but coach Tyronn Lue is pleased with how his team has handled adversity.

"Any time you lose two starters, it's going to make it tough but we have a no-excuse mentality and guys are stepping up and guys are playing well," he said, "and we got to continue to keep doing that until J.R. and Kevin get back."

Glenn Robinson III scored 17 for Indiana, which lost its fifth straight. Pacers All-Star Paul George scored just 13 and missed 12 straight shots after the first quarter. George ended his drought by making a 3-pointer with 5:15 left.

"I had looks that I've had all season," George said. "It was just one of those games I couldn't buy a basket at all. I felt great. Shot the ball well in warmups. I made the first shot, made the first couple."

Down by 10 in the third, the Pacers tied it at 83-all on a 3-pointer by Robinson. That's when Korver, who made 8 of 9 3s in a win over Indiana on Feb. 8, dropped a trey and Irving hit one on Cleveland's next possession.

The pair knocked two more to give the Cavaliers a 97-87 lead, and then Korver, who finally looks at home in Cleveland's offense after coming over in a trade from Atlanta, made another 3 and scored on a layup to give the Cavs a 106-89 lead.

A few minutes later, Korver got free for his first dunk with Cleveland.

"I just need one a year," he said with a laugh. "I don't need any highlights, just for my personal well- being, I need to know that I can still get up there and put one down."

Wednesday, February 15 Scoreboard

San Antonio 107, Orlando 79

Cleveland 113, Indiana 104

Boston 116, Philadephia 108

Toronto 90, Charlotte 85

Milwaukee 129, Brooklyn 125

Detroit 98, Dallas 91

New Orleans 95, Memphis 91

Miami 117, Houston 109

Minnesota 112,  Denver 99

Utah 111, Portland 88

Phoenix 137, Los Angeles Lakers 101

Oklahoma City 116, New York 105

Los Angeles Clippers 99, Atlanta 84

Golden State 109, Sacramento 86

Thursday, February 16 Schedule (All Times Central)

Washington at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Boston at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Friday, February 17 Schedule (All Times Central)

No games scheduled

Saturday, February 18 Schedule (All Times Central)

No games scheduled

Sunday, February 19 Schedule (All Times Central)

Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference, 7 p.m.