The Indiana Pacers had a Hollywood-level task on Wednesday at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. In an ESPN-broadcasted contest, the Pacers had their hands full in a rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers, this time with Luka Doncic and LeBron James in the lineup. The Lakers superstar duo snapped the Pacers’ five-game winning streak with a 120-119 clutch victory, thanks to a clutch performance from James.
Los Angeles came into Wednesday’s contest losers of three consecutive games, all to Eastern Conference teams. Meanwhile, the Pacers had a five-game winning streak, with all the momentum compared to their last meeting on Feb. 8, in which the Lakers astoundingly beat the Pacers 124-117, despite Doncic and James out of the lineup.
Despite a rough stretch, the Lakers are better than their recent losses suggest.
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With significantly more help than their last meeting with the Pacers, the Lakers showcased why they are a formidable team. The Lakers exploded for a dominant 18-0 run in the first half, after the Pacers led the first quarter 33-28.
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Lakers guard Austin Reaves led the run, accounting for 15 points in the second quarter.
Los Angeles led Indiana 68-55 at the first half despite James not converting a single field goal, which hasn’t happened since 2010.
The Pacers weren’t without a burst, as Tyrese Haliburton dished a game-high 18 assists to go with 16 points.
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Doncic finished with a game-high 34 points on a stunning 6 for 10 mark from 3. However, as much as Doncic had his prints on the game, Haliburton and James were the main takeaways in the game’s waning moments.
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Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 24 points but couldn’t seal the deal.
The two teams provided quite the finish as the game swung back and forth in the final quarter. Haliburton produced a 5-0 run in the game’s final minutes, but the Pacers failed to get him a shot on their last possession.
Bennedict Mathurin missed a heavily contested shot at the top of the key, which led to a Lakers fastbreak and a game-winning tip-in from James at the buzzer. Although the Pacers lost, they fought tooth and nail to combat the Lakers’ first-half buzz saw.
Related: How ‘Best Defensive Player’ Slowed Down Anthony Edwards in Pacers’ Win
