CLEVELAND — In retrospect, the last opportunity the Cavs had to impose any measure of will on the Eastern Conference semifinals came with 10:52 to play in the third quarter of Game 5.
The Cavs had watched a 19-point second quarter lead disappear almost entirely and they led by just four points at halftime. But they scored the first two baskets of the second half to build the lead back to eight and for a moment it seemed certain they were about to bring it back to double figures.
Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard was falling out of bounds and threw a risky pass to center Myles Turner at the top of the key.