Pacers 99, Cavaliers 89

CLEVELAND -- Center Roy Hibbert had a game-high 18 points to power the Indiana Pacers to a 99-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday at Quicken Loans Arena.

The 7-foot-2, 280-pound Hibbert added six rebounds and two blocks. The All-Star made 8 of 12 shot from the field.

With Cavs center Anderson Varejao sidelined with a knee injury, Hibbert operated against Cavs rookie Tyler Zeller, who was one of five Cleveland starters in double figures in scoring. Zeller had 12 points and seven rebounds.

The Cavs (5-23) have now lost six in a row, as well as 21 of their last 24. They also dropped to 0-8 in the Central Division this season, 0-17 dating back to last year.

Power forward Tristan Thompson was very active on the boards for the Cavs. He recorded his seventh double-double on the season with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

Cavs guard Kyrie Irving suffered through a rough shooting night. He made just 5 of 16 shots from the field en route to a team-high 17 points.

Even though rookie Dion Waiters didn't shoot a whole lot better, he had a good floor game with 11 points, three rebounds and a team-high seven assists.

Guard Lance Stephenson had 16 points and seven assists for the Pacers (15-12), while George Hill added 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Valuable reserve Gerald Green sprained his left ankle in the second half for Indiana.

The teams got frisky in the third quarter, as Pacers forward Tyler Hansbrough and Green earned technical fouls, as did Thompson. Hansbrough and Thompson had a brief skirmish in Indiana on Dec. 12.

The Pacers are the league's top rebounding team, and took advantage of Varejao being on the bench. They outrebounded the Cavs, 44-35.

They also shot 48.8 percent from the field, compared to 40 percent for the Cavs.

The Pacers stormed to a 10-point lead after three quarters, 77-67. They outscored the Cavs in the third 33-22, when they shot 68.2 percent from the field (15 of 22).

Irving had 10 points in the third quarter.

Waiters started to strut his stuff in the second quarter, as the Cavs took a 45-44 advantage at halftime. He had nine points, three rebounds and five assists in the first half.

The Pacers shot just 39 percent in the first half, when Hibbert and Green had 10 points apiece.

Forward Alonzo Gee scored nine points, as the Cavs and Pacers were tied at 23 after the first quarter.

NOTES: Varejao missed Friday's game and is expected to also miss Saturday's game vs. Milwaukee with a bruised right knee. "Andy doesn't want to miss games," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "We want to get that knee as healthy as possible." If he sits out of Saturday's game, he will be out a week. Scott said the Dec. 26 game at Washington might be the target date for Varejao's return. "I don't want to put him out there at risk," Scott said. "I don't want to put him out there at 75 percent. It's nothing long term. I'm just looking out for Andy. It's better that it's two or three games than 40-some games." He is leading the league in rebounding at 14.4 per game. ... Indiana coach Frank Vogel said he'd reach out to Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who is expected to return to the Colts on Monday after a bout with leukemia. "I'd like to touch bases with him in the next couple days and wish him happy holidays," Vogel said. "I want to tell him we're all grateful to him for getting through this." ... Zeller will remain in the starting lineup at least until Varejao returns. In his first start, he had 20 points and three rebounds against Boston's Kevin Garnett on Wednesday. "To respond the way he did against a future Hall of Famer is great," Scott said. The last time the 7-0, 250-pound Zeller faced Hibbert, he fouled out in 17 minutes on Dec. 12. "Zeller can play," Vogel said. "He's a heck of a rookie. He can shoot the ball from the perimeter. He's a solid defender. It's not like they don't have answers." ... Cavs power forward Jon Leuer has been recalled from the Canton Charge and will be available against the Pacers. He averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds in six games in the Development League. "It was fun to get minutes and get into a rhythm," Leuer said. "It was (a good experience). Going down there and getting those reps and seeing the ball go in, that's how you build confidence. Whenever my name is called, I'll be ready." ... If there's one thing Scott doesn't like, it's walking the ball up the floor. "I don't like slow-down basketball," he said. "I've always been an up-tempo coach. Ball movement and body movement is so important in what we're trying to do."