The Indiana Pacers were one made shot away from upsetting the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Who that last shot should've belonged to, however, has become a point of contention following the loss. Many expected it to be in the hands of star Paul George with the clock ticking down - and it was, for a time. The defense dictated a change of plans, though, causing the play to go awry and the 109-108 loss to be locked in.

The play

After George previously nailed a huge three-pointer to cut the team's deficit, the Cavaliers were alert to the fact that it would fall in his hands again.

The Pacers trailed 109-108; while they didn't need a three-pointer, the Cavs were going to make sure the interior was well-defended. George was ready to pull up from any spot on the court anyway.

But as the play unfolded, the Cavaliers moved quickly to put a double team on George. With no open lanes or shooting spaces, he had no choice but to pass it to his Pacers teammate, C.J. Miles. Miles began to scramble, sensing the clock breathing down his neck. He managed to find a good look, but it fell off the mark and the ball went into the hands of the Cavs, who ran out the clock for the Game 1 victory. George never got the ball back and nobody noticed Lance Stephenson open under the basket.

Honesty after the game

When George took the podium, there wasn't a sense of doom and gloom in his expression. It would've been incredible for the Pacers to upset the Cavs on the road in Game 1, but there is still plenty of time left to turn the series around. Still, he was cognizant to the fact that the team had blown a massive opportunity, especially after being dominated on the road, but still having a chance to win it at the buzzer.

He also realized how the end of the game should've gone differently.

George addressed the final play, admitting that the Cavaliers played it smart by doubling him much sooner than anybody expected.

He also said that he spoke to Miles afterwards and told him that the ball needed to be in George's hand at the conclusion of the game, a conceited but intelligent point. He also stated that he saw Stephenson open underneath the hoop, but felt as if the Cavs were baiting him into passing the ball to him as a ploy, hence why he didn't do it. Regardless, the facts stand as they are, and the Pacers are going to have to recover from the tough loss to play in Game 2 of the series on Monday night.
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