The Lakers head to Indiana to take on the Pacers who own the best record in the NBA. Led by Paul George and Roy Hibbert, the Pacers represent a tough task for the Lakers to overcome.
The Lakers will be without Nick Young, who is dealing with pain in his knee after playing in his first game back since Sunday. This game is the first of a back-to-back for the Lakers.
First Quarter
Pau Gasol got the scoring started for the Lakers with a nice jump shot, but the Pacers quickly led thanks to George Hill and David West. The Pacers quickly ran out to a 12-4 lead forcing the Lakers to use a timeout. A Lance Stephenson dunk and Hibbert layup pushed the lead to 12. Gasol had a big time three-point play, and MarShon Brooks hit a three-pointer to cut the Pacer lead to six. Brooks and Bazemore’s aggressiveness have served the Lakers well and Ryan Kelly pins Paul George’s shot to the backboard at the end of the quarter as the Lakers trail by seven at the end of the first.
Second Quarter
Chris Kaman looked great early in the second with a couple of baskets, but the Pacers were able to push the lead back to double digits thanks to Stephenson and Luis Scola. The teams traded a couple of baskets, and Jodie Meeks hit a three-point play to cut the lead to seven. Bazemore has been on fire and cut the lead to three on a beautiful step back jumper and a layup. Stephenson with a couple of beautiful plays but another Meeks three-point play cut the lead back to three. After a well-played first half, the Lakers are surprisingly down only three.
Third Quarter
Both teams traded baskets to start the half before George Hill gave the Pacers a little separation with a three-point play and a jumper. A Hibbert hook and Paul George block and layup and foul pushed the Pacer lead to 10. Another steal and Stephenson layup and the Pacers are beginning to take control of the game. A huge Paul George alley-oop and a Turner fadeaway shot pushed the lead out to 16 as the Lakers third quarter issues have returned. A CJ Watson three-pointer caps off a dominant third quarter as the Pacers took a 21 point lead into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
More of the same to start the fourth as Turner, Watson, and Mahinmi all converted on easy baskets for the Pacers. Meeks and Johnson hit a couple of three-pointers, but the Pacers pulled away early in the fourth, running out to a 27 point lead. The Pacers would go an 11-0 run before a Gasol rebound and putback ended it, but the damage was done as the Lakers trailed by 31. The Pacers would empty their bench and cruise to an easy win at home.
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