Max Strus scored twenty points while Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen each posted double-doubles for Cleveland.
Indiana leads the series two games to one, with game four Sunday night in Indianapolis.
Swashbucklings
1) After three days of criticism and questions, the Cavaliers came out firing, and other than a small chunk of time in the second quarter, the Cavaliers led the entire game.
They did the same in game two and lost, but this time was different; it didn't have the feel of a team watching the clock and hoping to hold on.
2) Cleveland's three missing players from game two all returned for this game, with Evan Mobley having the most success with eighteen points, thirteen rebounds, and three blocks.
3) Darius Garland struggled with foul problems but finished with ten points and three assists.
Garland will be a big key should Cleveland win the series.
4) Cleveland's three-point shooting improved in success, if not percentage, as the Cavaliers hit fourteen from long range.
5) Max Strus played well with twenty points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
Strus's game has picked up in the playoffs, and he is hustling all over the floor.
6) Ty Jerome's struggles continued, hitting one of eight from the field, and Kenny Atkinson's patience in such an important game was short as Jerome played thirteen minutes.
Sam Merrill played more than Jerome (twenty minutes to thirteen), and it'll be interesting to see if the trend between the two continues.
7) Cleveland controlled Tyrese Haliburton as the Pacer star scored only four points on two for eight shooting.
Haliburton fell hard on his wrist in game two, and it could have affected his shooting.
8) The road team has won each of the three games in the series, and the win took Cleveland off the hot seat going into Sunday's game.
Win Sunday, and it's a best-of-three with home court advantage.
Lose it, and there is no room for error.
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