INDIANAPOLIS — Well, it was good while it lasted.
They may have had tired legs at this point. Nothing seemed to go right for the Lakers as Indiana handed them their first loss in 6 games, 109-90. After scoring a season-high 150 points against the Pacers on Sunday, they somehow managed their lowest scoring output of the season against the same team.
The first quarter was close but we saw a familiar sight that plagued the Lakers in the first half previously: turnovers. Otherwise, they were able to keep it close despite the giveaways. The Pacers led, 27-24, after one.
It didn’t get much better in the second quarter as the Lakers not only continued to turn the ball over but they also missed a lot from downtown. We did get to see a few exciting connections between Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. Like this one:
Austin Reaves tosses the behind-the-back dime to Rui Hachimura for the fastbreak jam!
— NBA (@NBA) March 29, 2024
Lakers-Pacers | Live on NBA TV
📲 https://t.co/UyVMYzA5LA pic.twitter.com/lRn5P6oTtK
Still, Indy led at the half, 54-49.
The Lakers had more of the same problems in the third quarter. They actually looked even more stuck in the mud as the Pacers slowly broke away. Pascal Siakam, like the previous game, scored in double figs in the third quarter. Indiana built a 16-point lead near the end of the third before Anthony Davis’s lay-up cut the deficit to 86-72 entering the fourth.
L.A. got off to a fast start in the fourth with a rare three from Reaves and the traditional three-point play for Anthony Davis. But the troubles never stopped for the Lakers. They turned the ball a little bit less in the second half but they were timely and costly turnovers. And L.A. couldn’t make a three-pointer to save their lives. Too many empty possessions led Indy to go on an 12-0 run to boost the lead from 7 to 19.
There isn’t much to say. The Lakers seemed to play with heavy legs and fatigue both physically and mentally for most of the game. Their three-point shooting (5/30, .167) was atrocious. There was too much one-on-one from the Lakers. The Pacers didn’t shoot well from three (10/31, .323) but they had open looks. The turnovers were plenty (Lakers had 16; they had 10 in the first half). And the energy level just wasn’t there. I suppose you can chalk it up to a schedule loss; they did play their third game in four nights.
Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 24 points and 15 boards. LeBron James (16-10-8) and Austin Reaves (16-13-6) each had double-doubles but their decision-making was really not great throughout this contest. Rui Hachimura finished with 14 points but no rebounds; he had revealed the previous game that he was challenged to be better in rebounding. Apparently, he didn’t get a challenge for Friday night. And this is the D’Angelo Russell Laker fans are scared of: 6 points and 0/6 from three. As for the Pacers, 6 players had double figs in scoring. Pascal Siakam went for 22-11-6 while Tyrese Haliburton had an excellent game at 21-8-8.
Anyway, the Lakers are 2-1 on this road trip and they’ll be back playing on Sunday. Who do they have? The Brooklyn Nets, who embarrassed them last January in Los Angeles. If that isn’t enough motivation, I don’t know what it is.
Flush this one and move on to the next meal.
