In a highly anticipated rematch of the NBA In-Season Tournament championship, the Los Angeles Lakers triumphed over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night. With the regular season coming to a close, both teams were eager to secure favorable playoff seeding in their respective conferences. Ultimately, it was the Lakers who emerged victorious in a thrilling, high-scoring contest, prevailing with a final score of 150-145.
The Pacers started the game strong, sinking consecutive three-pointers. However, the Lakers quickly responded by capitalizing on Anthony Davis’ presence in the paint, allowing them to take an early 10-8 lead. With D’Angelo Russell sidelined due to illness, Spencer Dinwiddie took his place in the starting lineup and wasted no time making an impact, scoring five quick points. Despite the Pacers’ ability to push the pace and score easy transition baskets, the Lakers remained resilient.
Pascal Siakam showcased his determination to attack the basket, throwing down a powerful dunk and drawing fouls in the process. Davis had an outstanding quarter, amassing 15 points and eight rebounds. Nevertheless, Doug McDermott heated up towards the end of the quarter, enabling the Pacers to hold a 36-30 lead after the first quarter.
LeBron James, who had a quiet opening period, shifted gears and became more aggressive at the start of the second quarter. He assisted Max Christie in knocking down a three-pointer, allowing the Lakers to regain the lead momentarily. However, the Pacers quickly retaliated with a 9-0 run, halting the Lakers’ momentum. The Lakers then embarked on a run of their own, led by Austin Reaves, who converted a three-point play and delivered two impressive assists resulting in three-pointers. Taurean Prince also contributed five consecutive points, propelling the Lakers to a 72-68 halftime advantage.
Dinwiddie carried his hot shooting into the third quarter, draining back-to-back triples. The Lakers extended their lead to double digits for the first time in the game, thanks in part to Reaves’ contributions. Davis and James took advantage of their size advantage, dominating inside the paint. Davis even sank a three-pointer, as everything seemed to go right for the Lakers, who entered the final quarter with a comfortable 116-99 lead.
With James and Davis resting on the bench, the Pacers swiftly reduced their deficit to 11 points early in the fourth quarter, forcing the Lakers to call a timeout.
The Lakers became somewhat complacent thereafter, allowing the Pacers to gradually chip away at the lead. With a few minutes remaining, the Pacers narrowed the gap to four points.
However, the Lakers’ star duo responded emphatically. James connected on a corner three-pointer, and Davis converted a layup, igniting a quick 5-0 run. From that point on, the Lakers maintained control and sealed the victory, securing their third consecutive win.