INDIANAPOLIS -- When a quarter is set to expire, most NBA players will hold onto the ball or purposefully launch a late shot after the buzzer in fear of hurting his shooting percentage.
J.R. Smith isn't most players.
As the first quarter of the Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 4 matchup with the Indiana Pacers wound down, Smith found himself holding onto the ball with just 1.7 seconds left on the clock following a pair of free throws. But rather than risk harming his stat line, Smith opted to launch a three-quarter court shot in a desperate attempt to extend Cleveland's lead.
Smith's optimism was rewarded when his shot -- which he released well before the buzzer -- swished through the hoop. The 3-point make was Smith's third of the first quarter and helped the Cavs' extend their lead to 30-24.
Trailing the Pacers 2 games to 1 in the best-of-seven series, the Cavs need all the help outside of LeBron James they can get on Sunday as they look to even things up before heading back to Cleveland for Game 5 on Wednesday. Smith's strong start can't be viewed as anything but an encouraging sign for the Cavs, who have yet to have a player other than James score 20 or more points in a single game this series.
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