LeBron not sweating 0-1 hole: 'I was down 3-1 in the Finals'

LeBron James isn't used to failure in the first round of the playoffs, but that's what he finds himself facing after Sunday's surprising Game 1 98-80 loss at home to the Indiana Pacers.

It's the first time the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar has suffered defeat in a postseason opener, and also marks his first Round 1 loss in six years, ending his streak at 21 straight wins and bumping his overall record to 48-8. He's not worried, though, since he's faced far greater challenges and beaten far longer odds.

"I've always stayed even-keeled with the postseason," the four-time MVP told reporters postgame. "I'm down 0-1 in the first round. I was down 3-1 in the Finals. I'm the last guy to ask about how you're gonna feel the next couple of days."

James and Co. were down 3-1 against the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. At that point, no team in Finals history had overcome a 3-1 deficit in 32 tries. Cleveland became the first that year, defying all odds and defeating the Warriors in seven games to win the franchise's first championship.

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This time around, the Cavaliers face a tougher road to the Finals. They finished as the No. 4 seed following a tumultuous regular-season campaign, meaning there's a good chance they won't have homecourt advantage in the ensuing rounds ... if they even advance.

James registered his 20th career playoff triple-double with 24 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds in 44 minutes, which he admitted was more than he expected to play. The three-time champion, who passed Michael Jordan for second-most made field goals in NBA playoff history, said he plans to capitalize on multiple days off before hosting Game 2 on Wednesday.