Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers Game 3 player grades

Here are player grades for the Cavs’ Game 3 loss to the Pacers.

LeBron James: B-

James almost posted another triple-double and was the main reason why the Cavs got out to a 17-point lead. But when he took his foot off the gas for a big part of the second half, it spread to the rest of the team and cost the Cavs.

Kevin Love: C+

Love was excellent in the first half and followed it up with an absolutely dreadful second half, aside from three-pointer he hit in the game’s final moments. If the Cavs are going to win this series, they need more from him.

George Hill: B-

Hill came out aggressive, and played well, before his back tightened up and limited his second half minutes.

Kyle Korver: C-

Korver again played solid defense and hustled. But he made bonehead decisions in the fourth quarter to give Bojan Bogdanovic a four-point play and missed all three of his shots. This was not Korver’s cleanest performance.

J.R. Smith: C

Smith brought his defensive effort over from Game 2, but was 2-of-8 on three-point attempts in Game 3, including a miss at the buzzer.

Jordan Clarkson: D+

Filling in for Hill, Clarkson was basically invisible and finished just 1-of-4 from the field. If Hill is affected going forward, the Cavs need more from Clarkson.

Larry Nance Jr.: C-

Nance has not looked the same since coming back from his hamstring injury, but at least had a few good moments in Game 3.

Jeff Green: C-

Had he not thrown down a vicious dunk, this would have been an F.

Rodney Hood: C

Hood was 4-of-8 in this game, but missed a few good opportunities and isn’t really making an impact on defense. It feels like a lifetime ago that he scored 11 points in a fourth quarter to help the Cavs win a game.