Anthony Davis scores 36 points as Lakers hold off another Pacers comeback with 150-145 win
Anthony Davis scores 36 points as Lakers hold off another Pacers comeback with 150-145 win – Anthony Davis had 36 points and 16 rebounds, LeBron James added 26 points and 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers survived a strong fourth-quarter comeback by the Indiana Pacers with a 150-145 win on Sunday evening.
Spencer Dinwiddie had 26 points in his biggest offensive game since joining the Lakers, who have won three straight and five of seven. Los Angeles led 116-99 entering the fourth quarter, but Indiana closed the gap to three points in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers went on to score 10 points in the final minute — including six free throws by Austin Reaves, who finished with 25 points in a season-high for the Lakers.
Pascal Siakam scored 19 of his 36 points in the third quarter for the Pacers, who lost 2-1 on their five-game road trip after playing terrible defense in the second and third quarters, causing Los Angeles won 86 points. Myles Turner added 20 points and TJ McConnell had 17 points.
All-Star Tyrese Haliburton woke up from a quiet 12-point performance to hit two 3-pointers in the final seconds, giving the Lakers a three-point lead with 20 seconds to play. LA continued to hold as Dinwiddie made a free throw and Haliburton missed a 3 before Cam Reddish stole a pass from Doug McDermott with three seconds left.
Dinwiddie stepped up as the Lakers won for the first time in six games this season without sharp-shooting guard D’Angelo Russell, who was out with a non-COVID illness.
During the Pacers’ most recent visit against the Lakers in November 2022, they rallied from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter before Andrew Nembhard hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for an impressive 116-115 victory.
The teams meet for the first time since the Lakers defeated the Pacers in Las Vegas to win the Tournament in its inaugural season last December. The Lakers, who will play at Indiana on Friday, fell to 3-10 shortly after hoisting that trophy, and they failed to rise higher than ninth in the Western Conference despite building a 22- 13 since that loss.
Russell’s absence and the Pacers’ fast-paced play caused problems for the Lakers early on, but Davis had 15 points and nine rebounds in the first half to keep the score intact. The Lakers scored a season-high 116 points through three quarters, but Siakam held Indiana there himself.
Most of Argentina’s national football team attended the match ahead of La Albiceleste’s exhibition match at the Coliseum on Tuesday.
