Thursday's game between the Cavs and Pacers had all the makings of a white-flag, warm-up-the-bus-early matchup. Until it didn’t.

Speaking before tipoff against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, the Cavaliers coach reflected on his evolution since his Brooklyn tenure.

Following a surprisingly robust run, the Cavaliers head into the fourth quarter leading by a single point, 82-81 — but without their head coach for the final frame. First-year C