LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic scored 44 points in three quarters of action to lead the Lakers to a 128-117 win over the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena on Friday night with LeBron James and Deandre Ayton out of the Lakers’ lineup.
The Pacers have lost eight straight games to fall to 15-48, have not won since the All-Star break and have the Eastern Conference’s worst record, 1/2 game behind the Nets. The Lakers won for the fourth time in five games to improve to 38-25, sitting in sixth place in the West.
Guard Austin Reaves added 19 points for the Lakers. Guard Luke Kennard had 15 points and Rui Hachimura had 13. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 26 points. Guard Andrew Nembhard had 17 points and eight assists, center Jay Huff had 16 points and six rebounds and T.J. McConnell scored 10 points.
Here are three observations.
Luka Doncic lives up to Rick Carlisle’s pre-game praise
Rick Carlisle was asked in his pregame news conference about Luka Doncic and what it was like to play against him after coaching him. He replied, “It’s hell,” because he considers Doncic the best player he’s ever coached and the best player in the world at controlling a game.
Doncic proved Carlisle right all the way around on Friday with one of the most brilliant performances by a Pacers opponent this season. It took him a little while to get going and he had a manageable nine points with three minutes to go in the first quarter but after hitting two free throws with 2:59 to go to get into double-digits, he proceeded to go nuclear. Doncic hit step-back 3-pointers on the next two possessions, then teed up Luke Kennard for a 3, then hit a 13-footer and another step-back 3, this time from 30 feet. HIs 13 points in the final three minutes gave him 22 in the period on 7 of 9 shooting, including a perfect 5 of 5 from 3-point range.
Doncic played the whole first quarter and he cooled some in the second period and went into the break with 29 points on 9 of 15 shooting including 6 of 10 from 3, but then he went off again late in the third quarter. He started the period 1 of 6 from the floor but kept drawing fouls and made his last four buckets, including a remarkable step-back 3 just before the third quarter buzzer to finish with 15 points in the period and head into the fourth quarter with 44 points. The Lakers had a big enough lead that he didn’t have to play at all in the fourth. He finished 14 of 25 from the floor, 7 of 14 from 3, and 9 of 10 at the line with nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. He posted a +20 plus-minus figure in 31 minutes and 41 seconds on the floor.
Pacers frigid from 3
While Doncic was spectacular from beyond the arc, the Pacers couldn’t keep pace largely because they couldn’t make outside shots of their own.
While Doncic finished 7 of 14 from beyond the arc and the Lakers hit 17 of their 37 3-pointers as a team, the Pacers made just 8 of their 35 attempts. They made just 1 of 8 3s in the first period and 1 of 11 in the second to go into halftime with just two makes on 19 attempts. They picked it up some in the third and went 3 of 9, but were still 5 of 28 heading into the fourth while Doncic was 7 of 14 at the time. They were 3 of 7 in the fourth with the game largely decided.
Jay Huff was the only Pacers player who made two 3s, hitting two of his six attempts. Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith were each 1 of 6. Ben Sheppard was 1 of 5 and Pascal Siakam missed on all three of his attempts.
Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard provide some bright spots
The Pacers most decorated veterans still operated Friday as if playing in the LA bright lights meant something to them. The Lakers’ J.J. Redick was complimentary to both in his pre-game press conference and they earned some of that praise.
Siakam had a slow start and just nine points on 4 of 13 shooting, but he had 13 points on 4 of 5 shooting in the third and finished with 26 points on 10 of 20 attempts for the game. Nembhard scored 17 points on 7 of 14 shooting and dished out eight assists against one turnover. He and Nesmith shared the assignment of guarding Doncic and had some good moments on him, though Doncic still was too much for him to slow down.
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Luka Doncic goes off for 44 points as LeBron-less Lakers blow out Pacers
Reporting by Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
