A quartet of Lakers put up 25 points or more as they came away with a bizarre 150-145 win over the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena.
It proved the Lakers highest-scoring game since 1980 whilst also being the first time since 1971 that four Lakers put up 25 or more in the same outing.
Anthony Davis (36 pts, 16 reb, 15/21 FG) led the way for the home team whilst LeBron James (26 pts, 10 ast), Austin Reaves (25 pts, 8 ast), and Spencer Dinwiddie (26 pts, 8/11 FG) were also key.
Fresh off his highest-scoring game as a Laker, Dinwiddie was inserted into the starting lineup in place of D’Angelo Russell (illness) and rewarded the coaching staff by exploding for his highest scoring outburst in over four months.
It was the first time that the Lakers and Pacers had faced each other since the In-Season Tournament Final in early December.
The Lakers overcame a hot Pacers to start to earn a 19-point lead late in the third before a chaotic final frame turned things on its head.
The Lakers led 142-134 with less than a minute to play before Indiana scored 11 points in the final 46 seconds to prolong the game and provide a scare for the LA crowd but ultimately fell short.
Pascal Siakam (36 pts, 12 reb) was superb for Indiana whilst Myles Turner (20 pts, 4/6 3P) and T.J. McConnell (17 pts, 7 ast) were also key.
Tyrese Haliburton (12 pts, 10 ast, 5/13 FG) had a tough night despite hitting a pair of late threes.
The two teams will face each other again on Saturday in Indianapolis.
