w York Mets teammates.Murphy, who is leading the majors in hitting, homered for the sixth time this year against the Mets, drove in four runs, leading Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals over Ne

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers are more than familiar with facing the Cleveland Cavaliers when LeBron James rests, so they didnt get distracted by the four-time NBA MVPs absence Wednesday night.The Pacers beat the LeBron-less Cavaliers 103-92 to improve to 3-1 at home in the past two years when James sits.I found out when Coach (Nate McMillan) came in and said, `LeBrons not playing, said Pacers point guard Jeff Teague, who had 20 points and eight assists. I didnt know, but we needed a win. We werent worried about who was playing or who was going to be on the floor, we were just going to go out and compete.Jeff Teague added 20 points and eight assists, and Thaddeus Young had 16 points to help the Pacers improve to 6-1 at home and 6-6 overall.James sat out for the first time this season. Averaging 23.4 points and 8.9 rebounds, he rested after playing Tuesday night in a home victory over Toronto. Guard J.R. Smith also missed the game because of a sprained right ankle.It doesnt matter about LeBron not playing, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. We just lost the game.Kevin Love led Cleveland with 27 points and 16 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving had 24 points and seven assists. The Cavaliers dropped to 9-2 after matching the best start in franchise history with the victory over Toronto on Tuesday night.We had our chances, Love said. We cut the lead to four or five a couple times, and it just felt like we either had a bad possession, had a turnover, and then that lead went to eight or nine points, having to fight kind of uphill to claw back and try to win the game, and it was too little too late.Indiana led 80-68 lead after three quarters. The Cavaliers cut it to four points midway through the fourth, but the Pacers put it away with a 9-2 run. C.J. Miles hit a 3-pointer for the games largest lead -- 97-84 with 5:10 remaining.Of course its different, Miles said about facing the Cavaliers without James. Were talking about him still and he didnt even play tonight. Hes arguably the best player in our game. (But) we cant disrespect anybody. Theyve got guys who can play basketball.TIP-INS:Cavaliers: Smith has missed the last three games. The last time James skipped a road game at Indiana, the Pacers prevailed 123-109 on April 6, 2016. The Cavaliers extended their NBA-record streak of games with at least 10 3-pointers to start a season to 11 games.Pacers: G Rodney Stuckey (right hamstring strain) was scratched for the 10th consecutive game. Thanks in large part to C Myles Turners 2.3 blocks per game, Indiana is No. 1 in the NBA with a 6.4 average.HICKORY NIGHT RETURNS:Fridays Indiana home game against Phoenix coincides with the 30th anniversary of the classic 1986 basketball movie Hoosiers and will be the first of six Hickory Nights, in which the Pacers will wear Hickory Huskers replica uniforms from the movie. Hoosiers screenwriter Angelo Pizzo, director David Anspaugh and some of the films actors, including Maris Valainis (who played Jimmy Chitwood) will be in attendance.SEE YA DOWN THE ROAD:The Eastern Conference rivals dont play each other again until Feb. 8 at Indiana, then Feb. 15 at Cleveland and April 2 at Cleveland. The Cavaliers have won five in a row at home against the Pacers, who have a 93-88 series edge.UP NEXT:Cavaliers: Host Detroit on Friday night, then have a four-day break.Pacers: Host Phoenix on Friday night to end a four-game homestand.Jordan Scarlett Panthers Jersey . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Donte Jackson Jersey . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-curtis-samuel-panthers-jersey/ . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Donte Jackson Youth Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Sam Mills Jersey . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford.NEW YORK -- Daniel Murphy is torching major league pitching and no one is burned more than his former New York Mets teammates.Murphy, who is leading the majors in hitting, homered for the sixth time this year against the Mets, drove in four runs, leading Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals over New York 6-1 Saturday night.Oh my gosh, how many superlatives can you say? Scherzer said when asked about Murphy. This guy is just absolutely hitting the cover off the ball. He just understands what he is doing at the plate. He has such a great feel for the strike zone and when he gets his pitch, he hits it, and he is hitting these guys pretty good.Murphy had a run-scoring single in the third inning, an RBI double in the fifth and launched his 16th home run in the seventh. He is hitting .349 overall -- hes batting .438 (21 of 48) with 19 RBI against the Mets after becoming a free agent in the offseason and signing with Washington.Murphy refused to discuss his accomplishments against the team that he led to the NL pennant.His focus was on the Nationals, their season and winning this four-game series, with the Nats leading 2-1. Even being booed at Citi Field didnt seem