Larry Nance Jr. has had to a shoulder the load for the Cleveland Cavaliers the last couple of weeks down in the paint. With injuries to Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, Nance Jr. has taken the extra playing time and run with it.
Tuesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Nance Jr. had his biggest individual moment since putting on a wine and gold uniform.
His tip-in of a Rodney Hood missed jumper at the buzzer sent the Cavaliers to a 92-91 upset victory over the Indiana Pacers. The tip in also put an end to the Pacers seven game winning streak.
“I told Hood to put the ball up on the rim with a couple seconds left so I can see if I could do something with it,” Nance said. “He made a good move and did exactly that. I was lucky enough to get a hand on it.”
The buzzer beater capped off arguably one of the best games of his NBA career in Cleveland. Nance finished with 15 points. He also pulled down a career high 16 rebounds.
“Larry was terrific, even beyond the putback,” Cavaliers coach Larry Drew said. “I thought he did a phenomenal job. Offensively, he made some terrific passes. He took good shots, he got to the offensive glass, and defensively he really competed.”
Cleveland had six players score in double figures. Hood led the Cavaliers with a game high 17 points. Cedi Osman added 13 points. Rookie Collin Sexton finished with 12 points. Four of the Cavaliers starting five scored in double figures.
Off the bench, Alec Burks led Cleveland with 14 points. Matthew Dellavedova dropped in ten points. Dellavedova has reached double figures in all five games he’s played in since being reacquired by the Cavaliers from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Domantas Sabonis led the Pacers in scoring with a game high 17 points. Victor Oladipo struggled shooting the basketball. Oladipo finished with 12 points on four of 154 shooting.
Nance and the Cavaliers are now 3-11 away from Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland’s three game road trip continues Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets.
Scott Piker is the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage.com. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport
