NBA playoff scores 2017: Spurs and Cavaliers each hold off late runs to go up 2-0

We had two first-round games on Monday night, and both followed a similar pattern. The No. 2 seed jumped out to a big lead, the No. 7 seed made a tough comeback, but ultimately the better team pulled away in the end. Yes, it was Cavaliers-Pacers and Spurs-Grizzlies on Monday. Here is your recap:

The Pacers took the Cavaliers to double-overtime in Cleveland at the end of the regular season. Then they had a one-point loss with a chance to win Game 1 of the playoffs. On Monday, they found themselves down five late with a chance to make one more run. They’ve been able to hang with the Cavaliers, but they just can’t get over the hump. Partially because the Pacers have some major defensive flaws, but mostly because the Cavaliers are just too good.

For the first time ever, the Cavaliers got 25-plus points in a game from each of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. Irving led the way with 37 points, while Love had 27 and James had 25. Anytime James scores 25 points and he’s your third-leading scorer, you’re in a good place.

The Cavaliers’ defense still showed struggles as they’ve now let the Pacers score over 100 points two games in a row. They also allowed another late fourth-quarter comeback to happen, rather than putting a team away for good.

One thing that is working is doubling Paul George nearly every time he touches the ball. They started doing it in Game 1 and carried it right over to Game 2. The Pacers really need make adjustments to this when they return home.

Despite the double teams, George still had a strong line with 32 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. It just wasn’t enough to take down the defending champs. The good news for the Pacers is that they know they can hang with the Cavaliers to an extent and they play extremely well at home. Game 3 is on Thursday night.

Kawhi Leonard was magnificent again in Game 2 of this first-round series. He put up 37 points on 14 shots and went 19-for-19 from the free throw line. That 19-for-19 line is good enough for third-best ever in the playoffs, only behind Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce.

Speaking of those free throws, Grizzlies coach David Fizdale went absolutely bananas in his postgame presser. He went hard on the refs and came up with two instant classic lines in “You wont rook us!” and “Take that for data!”

It’s impressive that the Grizzlies were able to put up the fight they did on Monday, given how depleted their roster is. Wayne Selden and JaMychal Green are starting, while Andrew Harrison plays backup point guard and 40-year-old Vince Carter is still getting run. No disrespect to Vince, he’s still the greatest. But this isn’t a lineup you want to put together to try and take down the Spurs. Yet, Grit n’ Grind always finds a way. It may not show up in the final scores but the Grizzlies had a ton of fight on Monday night clawing back from a 26-point deficit to bring the game within four.

While the roster is less than ideal, Memphis still has Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, and that may be enough to win a game at home in this series. But as much as we love Fizdale and this Grizzlies team, the Spurs are on a different level.

Cavaliers 117, Pacers 111 (Fear the Sword recap | Indy Cornrows recap)

Spurs 96, Grizzlies 82 (Pounding the Rock recap | Grizzly Bear Blues)