Mar 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball whereas Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) defends within the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Photos LeBron James tipped within the game-winning layup as time expired, giving the visiting Los Angeles Lakers a 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on Wednesday.
James, who did not join on a discipline purpose till the fourth quarter, completed with 13 factors, 13 rebounds and 7 assists for the Lakers (44-28), who snapped a three-game shedding streak.
Trailing by three with 5 minutes left, Los Angeles went on an 11-2 run that was stamped with a triple by Rui Hachimura with 1:51 remaining. The Pacers then retook the lead with seven straight factors, together with a Tyrese Haliburton three-point play to seize a 119-118 edge with 42 seconds left.
After Bennedict Mathurin missed a 3-pointer, Luka Doncic’s missed floater was put again in by James on the buzzer.
Doncic had 34 factors, seven boards and 7 assists for Los Angeles, whereas Austin Reaves scored 24 and Hachimura added 14.
Indiana (42-30) was led by Mathurin’s 23 factors off the bench and Haliburton’s 16 factors and 18 assists. Myles Turner contributed with 16 factors and 12 rebounds for Indiana, which had its five-game profitable streak come to an finish, and Andrew Nembhard completed with 16 factors.
Trailing by 13 at halftime, Indiana trimmed its deficit to seven on Turner’s triple. Doncic’s layup later pushed the Lakers’ result in 83-73, however a 13-5 Pacers spurt was capped by triples from Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith to drag Indiana inside two.
Nembhard’s basket on Indiana’s ultimate possession despatched the Pacers into the ultimate quarter with a 95-92 deficit.
James’ first two discipline objectives got here on consecutive journeys at the start of the fourth, along with his second basket forcing an Indiana timeout down 101-92. James then continued his run with 4 extra factors earlier than Mathurin scored eight as a part of Indiana’s 13-0 run, tying the sport at 105 on the 6:05 mark.
Simply over a minute later, Turner’s trey gave the Pacers their first lead because the opening minute of the second quarter.
Indiana took a 33-28 lead into the second quarter, however the Lakers opened the second on a 15-0 run. Nembhard’s three-point play stopped the bleeding for Indiana, however Reaves then scored 10 of the Lakers’ subsequent 12 factors, serving to give Los Angeles a 55-43 edge with lower than 5 minutes left within the first half.
Mathurin scored the Pacers’ ultimate six factors of the primary half, however Jaxson Hayes’ dunk with 11 seconds remaining gave the Lakers a 68-55 halftime lead.
–Area Degree Media
