CNN
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The Los Angeles Lakers produced their highest scoring evening in 37 years on Monday, outlasting the Indiana Pacers 150-145 in a conflict between two potent offenses.
The Lakers, led by the celebrity duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, had 4 gamers rating at the least 25 factors in what was the group’s highest scoring sport of the season.
Davis led the best way with 36 factors and 16 rebounds whereas taking pictures an environment friendly 15-of-21 from the sphere. James and Spencer Dinwiddie every had 26 factors whereas Austin Reaves chipped in with 25, together with six free throws inside the ultimate minute to assist ice the sport.
Per the NBA, these 4 gamers turned the primary quartet of teammates to every rating 25+ factors in over three years, and the primary Lakers teammates to realize the feat since 1971.
Indiana held a six-point lead after the primary quarter earlier than a scoring explosion from LA noticed the group put up 86 factors throughout the second and third quarters alone.
“Offensively, we had been very sharp,” James mentioned postgame. “We had some turnovers within the first quarter and first half however cleaned it up within the second half.”
The Pacers, in the meantime, had all 5 starters – and eight gamers in complete – hit double figures after a late fourth-quarter rally noticed the group fall simply brief. Indiana has boasted the most effective offenses within the league all through the season and at the moment holds the second-best offensive score within the league.
“We performed (the Pacers) within the (In-Season Event) championship, and we all know how high-powered an offense they’re,” mentioned James. “They’re by no means going to cease taking part in irrespective of how far they get down or how far they’re up, so it’s an excellent win for us.”
Regardless of the free-scoring nature of the sport, Davis lamented his facet’s defensive efficiency.
“We allowed them to attain 145, so … it was horrible defensively,” Davis mentioned after the sport.
“They hit some photographs towards the top, however we will do what we wish offensively – as you can see tonight – however we’ve obtained to defend, particularly after we’ve obtained a group (in bother) like that. We don’t want to provide them life, however at this level within the season, a win is a win. We’ll take it, however we’ve obtained to be taught from it as nicely.”
The Lakers had been nearly made to pay for his or her porous protection, because the Pacers got here again from 19 factors down to chop the result in solely three when All-Star Tyrese Haliburton drilled two triples inside the ultimate 30 seconds of the sport.
The late flurry turned out to be too little, too late for Indiana, however head coach Rick Carlisle was happy together with his squad’s effort.
“Generally, when you will have tough challenges, it’s straightforward to drop your head and simply say, ‘Hey, it’s not our evening,’ however our guys don’t try this,” he mentioned. “Our second unit battled within the second half. That final five-minute stretch, the primary unit got here again in there, they usually had been defiant about hanging within the sport. At a sure level, you’ve obtained to play completely completely, and that was going to be very, very tough.”
Carlisle was additionally unimpressed with the disparity in foul calls between the 2 sides.
“There have been simply sure issues that had been not possible to beat. A 27 free throw differential is one, and a 17-foul differential is the opposite,” he mentioned.
Mid-season commerce acquisition Pascal Siakam led the Pacers in scoring with 36 factors to associate with 12 rebounds, whereas Myles Turner and Andrew Nembhard contributed 20 and 15 factors respectively because the Pacers fell to 40-32 – at the moment ok for sixth within the Japanese Convention.
The Purple and Gold, in the meantime, win their third in a row to maneuver to 39-32 and occupy the No. 9 seed within the West and a spot within the postseason Play-In Event. The Lakers now embark on a six-game road-trip and can be seeking to enhance their seeding and safe an automated playoff berth because the season winds down.