NBA playoffs: Cavaliers escape with 109-108 win over Pacers; Spurs and Bucks win in routs

Their regular-season issues followed the Cleveland Cavaliers into the playoffs. They didn’t win their postseason opener as much as survive it.

LeBron James scored 32 points and the defending champions, looking to flip the switch after a shaky regular season, began the NBA playoffs by escaping with a 109-108 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Indiana could have won it in the final seconds, but C.J. Miles, who Cleveland’s players and coaches call a “Cavs killer,” missed a 14-foot jumper just before the horn.

“C.J. had a pretty decent look,” Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. “We have to make that shot.”

Playing in his 200th playoff game, James added 13 assists and six rebounds while winning his 18th consecutive first-round game.

However, it was anything but easy as the Cavs, who had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, had to withstand a strong comeback by the Pacers, who had the ball and a chance to win with 20 seconds left. Indiana wanted star Paul George to take the last shot, but Cleveland double-teamed him and he was forced to pass it to Miles, whose shot was on line but short.

“I talked to C.J. about it,” George said. “In situations like that, I gotta get the last shot. I was asking for it. C.J. took it upon himself.”

Kyrie Irving added 23 points and Kevin Love had 17 for Cleveland, which has won 12 straight playoff games at home.

George scored 29 points and Lance Stephenson had 16 for the seventh-seeded Pacers, who will try to even the series on Monday night.

Cleveland had several bad possessions down the stretch and the Cavs went only 14 of 27 from the free-throw line.

After dropping their last four and going 10-14 since March 1, the Cavs entered the postseason appearing very vulnerable. It’s too soon to say whether they have their act together, but for three quarters they looked more like a team capable of reaching its third straight Finals.

at San Antonio 111, Memphis 82: Kawhi Leonard matched his postseason high with 32 points and the Spurs rolled to a win over the Grizzlies in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and Tony Parker added 18 to help San Antonio win its ninth straight over Memphis in the postseason.

Marc Gasol had 32 points, but only seven in the second half as the Grizzlies fell behind by as many as 36 points. Mike Conley was the only other Grizzlies player in double figures, finishing with 13.

Memphis was without defensive lynchpin Tony Allen. He’s out indefinitely because of a calf injury, and Leonard took advantage for his fourth career playoff game of 30-plus points.

Game 2 is Monday night in San Antonio.

Milwaukee 97, at Toronto 83: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 28 points, rookie Malcolm Brogdon added 16 and the Bucks routed the Raptors in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

Playing his second career playoff series, Antetekounmpo made 13 of 18 shots from the field, and finished with eight rebounds and three assists. Greg Monroe added 14 points, Tony Snell contributed 11, and Khris Middleton finished with 10 points and nine assists.

DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 27 points, and Serge Ibaka finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Raptors have lost the opening game in eight consecutive playoff series.

Toronto’s Kyle Lowry made only two of 11 field-goal attempts, missing all six 3-point efforts, and finished with four points. Jonas Valanciunas had nine points and nine rebounds.

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Toronto.