They met within the NBA’s inaugural in-season event championship recreation in Las Vegas in December, a matchup the Lakers received over the Indiana Pacers.
There was much less at stake when the 2 squads met Sunday evening at Crypto.com Area, however the recreation nonetheless held significance for the Lakers.
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With the regular-season winding down, the Lakers are in search of home-court benefit for the play-in event.
The Lakers’ high-energy 150-145 win over the Pacers was a step in the suitable course, giving them a 2 ½-game lead over the Tenth-seeded Golden State Warriors within the Western Convention playoff race.
Spencer Dinwiddie, who began rather than D’Angelo Russell (non-COVID sickness), performed a number one function in serving to the Lakers file a season excessive for factors. Dinwiddie had 26 factors — probably the most he has scored since his arrival — going eight for 11 from the sphere and two for 3 from three-point vary. He went eight for 9 from the free-throw line, along with his closing free throw giving the Lakers (39-32) a four-point lead with 20 seconds left.
Anthony Davis completed with 36 factors and 16 rebounds, and LeBron James had 26 factors, 10 assists and 5 rebounds to assist the Lakers earn their third consecutive win. Austin Reaves completed with 25 factors.
The Lakers scored 116 factors by three quarters — their highest output this season — and held a 17-point lead getting into the fourth.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers (40-32) with 36 factors and 12 rebounds.
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Instances.
