The first play of the game said it all.

Kyrie Irving attacked the basket to open the Cleveland Cavaliers’ match-up against the Indiana Pacers with more confidence than one would expect from a 19-year-old coming off of a concussion.

To say he set the pace for the Cavs’ 98-87 victory over the Danny Granger-less Pacers is an understatement.

It was assumed he’d post decent numbers in his return after missing three games due to a concussion. It was expected that he’d be a tad shaken up after being kneed in the head by Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade in the Cavs’ 107-91 loss to the Miami Heat on Feb. 7.

Twenty two points on 8-of-12 shooting, combined with five assists and just one turnover, isn’t just decent. Those stats are inspirational to his teammates.

“Kyrie didn’t look like he missed a beat,” head coach Byron Scott told media. “He has no fear.”

The Cavs need a leader as inspiring as Irving when they are are now without their energy booster and big man Anderson Varejao for what looks to be like several weeks to come. Varejao fractured his wrist during the third quarter of the Cavs’ 113-112 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, Feb. 10.

The center position looked grim for the Cavs—before the win over Indiana on Wednesday, Cleveland was looking to snap a six-game skid, and the absence of Varejao played a large part in the skid lasting much too long.

Head coach Byron Scott put his trust in starting center Semih Erden, a 7-footer who doesn’t see many minutes due to his unproductive play on the court.

There was a light seen in Erden on Wednesday, though – a light of hope that beamed for Cleveland fans. The loss of Varejao for almost the entirety of last season due to a torn ankle tendon undoubtedly played a part in the Cavs’ 26-game losing streak and 19-63 record.

Cleveland can’t bear to see that same story play out another year. Someone has to back Varejao up.

Erden picked up the slack on Wednesday, to stay the least. He dropped 18 points and crashed eight boards in a match-up against All Star Roy Hibbert (17 points, eight rebounds) on Wednesday.

“Semih played with more effort tonight,” Scott said. “I thought he was a little more aggressive and more comfortable being that way.”

According to Scott, it’s safe to say that Erden will be starting in Cleveland’s contest against the Miami Heat on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena.

Cleveland’s Daniel Gibson left the game with 8:17 remaining in the third quarter with an ankle sprain and did not return. X-rays indicated it was negative.