After a disappointing down-to-the-wire loss against the undermanned Detroit Pistons, the Luka Doncic-led Los Angeles Lakers were quick to get back on track, beating the Indiana Pacers, 137-130, on Thursday behind 43 points from the Slovenian sensation.
Throughout the past 11 games, where the Purple and Gold only lost once, Doncic averaged video game-like numbers of 39.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.3 assists, all while shooting at a 48% clip.
“We knew they were gonna play hard for 48 minutes… Obviously, we kinda let it go a little bit in the fourth. I think everybody was a little bit tired, but we got a win in the end, so that’s what matters,” Doncic said postgame.
LeBron James Flirts with Triple-Double Again as Lakers Return Home with Momentum
The win over Indiana marked the end of Los Angeles’ six-game road trip, where the Lakers dropped just one game. Despite the recent loss, the Lakers remain one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning 13 of their last 15 games as the regular season nears its end.
LeBron James, for the second straight match, was once again inches short of a triple-double, dropping 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, including a left-handed poster on former Laker Jay Huff.
Meanwhile, Austin Reaves notched 25 points and 8 assists. He also hit a big floater late in the match to halt the Pacers’ momentum. Jaxson Hayes played his best game of the season offensively, dropping 21 points and corralling 10 rebounds.
Andrew Nembhard Dishes 19 Assists as Late Pacers Rally Falls Short
Despite the loss, Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard showcased his elite playmaking ability by dishing out a career-high 19 assists to go along with 14 points, making him only the fifth Pacer to have such a stat line.
Nembhard’s dimes were also responsible for Indiana’s late-game surge, as the Pacers cut a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to as little as 9.
The Lakers will look to build a new win streak when they face the Brooklyn Nets back home on Saturday, while the Pacers will try to bounce back against the LA Clippers on the same day.
