New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Pacers- Game 45

New FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Pacers- Game 45

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (22-23)  | Indiana Pacers (16-29)

 

The Los Angeles Lakers followed a key victory against the Jazz, with a frustrating loss to the Pacers 111-104 Wednesday night.

 

After a much-needed victory against the Jazz, the Lakers sought to keep the momentum against Indiana. With Kevin Durant slightly ahead in points per game, with 29.3, James continues to climb towards the league lead at 28.8 a game.

Dwight Howard won the tip-off for the Lakers, but two wacky turnovers by both sides served as the game’s first act. Lebron James began the scoring with a layup, as Westbrook followed with two threes. It was the third straight game for Russ hitting a three and an accomplishment much more appreciated this season for the veteran.

Early first quarter action favored the Lakers, as the bench entered with authority. THT and Carmelo Anthony would lead with two buckets each, while Stanley Johnson picked up from the last game with one of his own. The quarter is capped off by a three from James, as his 10 points had the Lakers up 32-23 at the end of the first.

The 2nd quarter began with early pressure on offense for both sides. James and Monk quickly scored to counter two Sabonis inside buckets. Westbrook would later hit his third three to give the Lakers their largest lead of the night by 14, but the Pacers kept chipping away to keep the lead within reason. Justin Holiday hit a three to cap off a 7-0 run for the Pacers, putting them within five at 52-47 nearing the end of the half.

James made sure to send the Pacers into halftime angry as he drove for a signature reverse dunk on great passing by Monk. Very reminiscent of his younger days in Cleveland, James ended the half with 18 points to lead the scoring. With the Lakers only up by 6, they headed into the locker room to continue their defensive success on Sabonis and Levert.

Westbrook may have hit from three thrice, but his 3 for ten shooting kept the game within range. In recent matchups, the third quarter has been like kryptonite for the Lakers, as they looked to change that.

 

James and THT lead the scoring for the Lakers in the first half, but Westbrook’s 3-10 shooting kept the Pacers in the game entering the 3rd.

 

Despite an early three from James, the 3rd quarter was back and forth for the two teams. Justin Holiday would hit another three to give the Pacers their first lead of the game, but Anthony quickly hit a jumper to get the lead back. The quarter would wind down with more of the same but help by Carmelo Anthony helped stop a Pacers run. As he posted 10 points in the 3rd, the quarter would end with a small lead for the Lakers at 80-76.

As the game remained close, Sabonis and James would trade buckets to start the 4th. However, going back to the reverse dunk to end the half for James, the Pacers began showing vengeance. Caris Levert would later put up eight quick points to give the Pacers the lead, as it was all downhill from here for the Lakers. The 10-0 run for the Pacers came at the wrong time, as the Lakers could not come back. The disappointing loss 111-104 served as one of the most frustrating losses this season for the team.

Lebron James secured his 10,000th career rebound, but this loss overshadowed it. Falling below .500 again, there’s not much to say at this point. Simply put, the Lakers have to stop allowing scoring runs late game from the opposition and remain consistent all the way through. On Friday, the Lakers head to Orlando to face the Magic, a team yet to reach ten wins. They desperately look to build a winning streak on Friday to have any chance of climbing the standings and avoiding the play-in tournament or elimination in the long run.

The Lakers will be in Orlando Friday to face the Magic, the game begins at 4:00 pm and can be seen on Spectrum.

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– Duncan Dye – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Duncan on Instagram @duncan.dye42

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