After a three-game road trip, the Los Angeles Lakers returned home on Monday to face an Indiana Pacers team that has been heating up.
Los Angeles gradually built a sizable lead in the first three quarters, leading by six at halftime and by 17 early in the fourth quarter. Then the Pacers got themselves going.
They went on a 10-0 run to cut the Lakers’ lead to seven. After the Lakers flexed a bit, a 13-3 run by Indiana made it a nail-biter down the stretch.
Up by two with 20.9 seconds left, L.A. forced a missed 3-pointer by Myles Turner with 5.6 seconds left, but the Pacers collected an offensive rebound, and rookie guard Andrew Nembhard threw in the game-winning trey at the buzzer.
The Lakers contributed to their 116-115 loss by walking the ball upcourt and milking the shot clock in the fourth quarter, and it killed their offensive rhythm, which resulted in numerous turnovers and empty possessions down the stretch.