Pacers 118, Lakers 98: Paul George scored 20 points to lead seven players in double figures as host Indiana finished its first season sweep of Los Angeles since the 1991-92 campaign.
George Hill added 14 points and David West contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who improved to 27-3 at home. Evan Turner added 13 points off the bench in his Indiana debut and Lance Stephenson tallied 13 points and nine rebounds.
Kent Bazemore put up a career-best 23 points to lead the Lakers, who have lost six of their last seven and occupy the Western Conference cellar. Wesley Johnson scored 15 points and Pau Gasol and Jodie Meeks contributed 13 apiece.
Indiana broke open a close game in the third quarter, getting 12 points from George as they outscored the Lakers 34-16 in the period to extend the margin to 91-70. Meeks opened the fourth with a 3-pointer for Los Angeles, but the Pacers slammed the door on any notion of a comeback with an 18-3 run.
The Pacers led by 12 early but let the Lakers shoot their way back into it. Meeks scored five straight points in the final 1:27 of the half to pull Los Angeles within 55-54 before George knocked down a pair of free throws to give Indiana a three-point margin at the break.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Indiana notched its first home win over the Lakers since Dec. 2, 2008. … Bazemore has set a career high for points in each of his first three games with the Lakers. … The Pacers recorded season highs in field goals made (47) and attempted (101).
L.A. Lakers | Indiana | |
Kent Bazemore 23 | Scoring | Paul George 20 |
Jordan Farmar 7 | Assists | Paul George 6 |
Pau Gasol 9 | Rebounds | David West 12 |
Kent Bazemore 6 | Free Throws Made | Paul George 7 |
Kent Bazemore 3 | Steals | David West 3 |
Pau Gasol 4 | Blocks | Roy Hibbert 4 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
L.A. Lakers | 98 | 43.3 | 8-23 | 12-20 | 22 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 17 |
Indiana | 118 | 46.5 | 5-16 | 19-25 | 25 | 62 | 10 | 11 | 17 |