Indiana Pacers used a balanced attack to down Los Angeles Lakers 98-96: NBA Recap
Kobe Bryant broke Roy Hibbert’s nose early in the game, but he certainly didn't break his will.
The Indiana Pacers big toughed out a broken nose and scored 8 of his team high 18 points in the spine chilling last quarter as the Pacers took down the Los Angeles Lakers 98-96 at the Staples Centre on Sunday.
All of Indiana starters ended the game in double figures while George Hill came off the bench for 11 points. Danny Granger scored 16 points and made three blocks; David West had 15 points and 9 rebounds; Paul George posted 13 points
while Darren Collison added 12 and dished out 7 of the total 22 assists for Indiana, who are having their best start since the 2003-04 season.
The Lakers were led by Kobe Bryant, who shot 14-of-30 from the floor for 33 points and also grabbed 8 rebounds. He was on fire early only and scored 11 of the 27 first quarter Lakers points. Andrew Bynum had 16 points and 8 boards;
Matt Barnes had 14 while Metta World Peace came off the bench for 11 points.
Pau Gasol, who had tweeted about the importance of the game coming into the night, was off colour from the floor with only 4 of 12. He did however dish out a game high 10 assists and also clutched 8 rebounds, 4 of them on the offensive.
After mauling the Pacers 27-14 in the first quarter, the Lakers were leading by 46-34 deep into the second, before a 15-6 Pacers sprint, capped a buzzer beating three by David West made it 49-52 going into the second half.
The Pacers launched barrage of three pointers early in the third to take the lead, but the Lakers bounced back quickly and after some back and forth action, they were leading by 75-73 with just 1:54 to go in the last frame.
The Pacers made four throws in the passage that followed, but the Lakers reeled off a 9-0 run, bridging the third and the fourth quarter, to carve out an 84-77 lead.
Hibbert responded for Indiana with three consecutive two’s and a Bynum alley oop layup later, Collison knocked down a triple to tie the game for the Pacers at 86. The Lakers kept on pressing though and a Derek Fisher 3, with only
1:57 remaining, put them ahead by 94-91.
The hosts however missed next five of their field goal efforts, allowing Indiana to muster seven unanswered points to take a 98-94 lead. With 2.4 seconds remaining, the Lakers had lost the game and a Gasol layup was a mere consolation.
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