Reaction: Pacers squander 25-point halftime lead, fall to Cavs

LeBron James dominated the second half Thursday, finishing with 41 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 119-114 Game 3 victory over the Indiana Pacers, who led 74-49 at halftime. That rally from 25 down is one of the largest in league playoff history.

Paul George had 36 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists for the Pacers, who trail the first-round playoff series 3-0. Game 4 is 1 p.m. Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Cleveland made 21 3-pointers to rally from their huge deficit.

The Pacers thrilled the crowd in the first half, especially bench players Kevin Seraphin, Lance Stephenson and Glenn Robinson III.

Thad Young had 11 points and 14 rebounds.

FOURTH QUARTER

Channing Frye's 3, the Cavs' 21st, gives the them a 114-107 lead with 54 seconds left.

LeBron James hits a corner 3. The Cavs lead 111-107 with 2:50 left. James has 39 points.

Paul George is trying to keep the Pacers in it. His 3 makes it 108-107 Cavs with 3:35 left. PG has 34 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists.

LeBron James gets an easy layup on an inbounds play then passes to Kyle Korver for a 3.

Channing Frye 3, then Paul George 3. Pacers lead 104-103.

Jeff Teague comes through with a familiar fouled on a 3, which goes in. Pacers 101-100 with 6:15 left.

Cavs come out of a timeout and LeBron James gets two dunks, and they lead 100-98. He has 34 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists.

Channing Frye misses a 3 to take the lead with 7:40 remaining.

Cleveland cuts the lead to 96-94.

A Kyle Korver 3 brings the Cavs within 96-91 with 9:36 left. Korver had no 3s in the first two games but is 3-of-4. Cavs are 17-of-38.

The Pacers get the lead to 96-86 as Paul George leads with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists. Both teams are shooting about 42 percent now after the Pacers' awful third quarter.

THIRD QUARTER

Pacers lead 91-84. Cleveland had an 18-point edge in the period.

LeBron James has two late 3-pointers as the Cavs cut the Pacers' lead to 89-84. James is 5-of-8 on 3s for 26 points.

J.R. Smith's 3 with 2:20 left cuts the Cavs' deficit to 87-77.

Paul George has 23 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists with 2:30 left in the period.

The Pacers get the lead back to 20 at 87-67. Jeff Teague has 12 points, Thad Young and Lance Stephenson 11 each.

Just like in Game 2, the Cavs come out hot to start the second half. The Pacers' lead is down to 77-62 after a 13-3 Cleveland surge.

In the first half, LeBron James passed Kobe Bryant for third place in career playoff points. Michael Jordan is first.

SECOND QUARTER

The Pacers get stellar contributions from just about everyone and lead the Cavaliers 74-49 at halftime. The Pacers are shooting well over 50 percent while holding the Cavs well under 40. LeBron James has 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

Paul George is on fire! He has 23 points, including 3-of-7 on 3s, in the first half. He had two points in the first quarter. He also has 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Thad Young and Kevin Seraphin had 9 points each.

Pacers lead by 23 with 1 minute left in the quarter.

Pacers lead 50-36 with 5:54 left in as Paul George exhorts the crowd heading into a timeout. Nine players hvae scored and they are shooting 56 percent, 6-of-10 on 3-pointers.

A LeBron James 3 gives him 10 points, but Myles Turner comes in with a thunderous dunk on the next play.

Pacers extend the lead to 13 points early in the quarter.

FIRST QUARTER

Kevin Seraphin comes in with a flurry of 9 points in less than 5 minutes. Pacers are shooting better than 60 percent and the bench has been terrific. Pacers 27, Cavs 27

Paul George gets his first basket with 2:44 left and the Pacers lead 23-19.

Lance Stephenson enters the game and energizes the crowd with a 3.

Every Pacers starter except Paul George has scored midway through the quarter. Pacers 16, Cavs 13 with 5:56 left

Cavaliers are killing the Pacers on the boards 7-3, including 4 offensive.

C.J. Miles, starting instead of Monta Ellis, draws LeBron James' first foul with 7:39 left.

Kevin Love gets the Cavs' first 3, but Myles Turner responds with a dunk. Then he commits a foul on a rebound.

PREGAME

The Pacers announce C.J. Miles will start in place of Monta Ellis.