Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Lakers
· National Basketball Association
Luka Doncic scores 44 points in 3 quarters to lead Lakers past Pacers 128-117 without LeBron
Doncic hit seven 3-pointers on a 14-for-25 shooting night and grabbed nine rebounds before sitting out the fourth for the Lakers, who rebounded from a road loss to Denver on Thursday and won for the fourth time in five games overall.
James sat out to rest his accumulation of minor injuries in his 23rd NBA season, but Doncic picked up any offensive slack from the start. The Slovenian superstar scored 22 points in the first quarter, topping 20 in the opening period for the fifth time this season — the most such first quarters in the NBA in one season at least 30 years.
Doncic capped his barrage by banking in his seventh 3-pointer late in his 15-point third quarter.
Doncic became only the fourth player in Lakers history to score 40 points in at least 10 games in a season, joining Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. He also has the most 40-point games in the NBA this season, passing Anthony Edwards.
The Lakers only led by 19 entering the fourth, but they increased their lead without Doncic on the floor, ending his night before he could threaten for his eighth career 50-point game.
Austin Reaves scored 19 points before fouling out for only the second time in his career with 4:58 to play. Luke Kennard had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Marcus Smart scored 11 points on his 32nd birthday.
Pascal Siakam scored 26 points and Andrew Nembhard had 17 for the Pacers, who have lost eight straight since the All-Star break, including five consecutive blowout defeats. Indiana went 2 for 19 on 3-point attempts in the first half.
The Lakers also played without starting center Deandre Ayton, who has a knee injury.
Lakers: Host New York on Sunday.
Regular Season Series
LAL lead series 1-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 117 - 128 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 117 - 128 |
| 4th 17.9 |  |
Jarace Walker makes 1-foot running dunk | 117 - 128 |
| 4th 20.3 |  |
Dalton Knecht lost ball turnover (Jarace Walker steals) | 115 - 128 |
| 4th 36.1 | |
Chris Manon defensive rebound | 115 - 128 |
Statistics
 IND |
 LAL |
|
|---|---|---|
| 46-98 | FG | 45-85 |
| 47 | Field Goal % | 53 |
| 8-35 | 3PT | 17-37 |
| 23 | Three Point % | 46 |
| 17-24 | FT | 21-23 |
| 71 | Free Throw % | 91 |
| 40 | Rebounds | 43 |
| 12 | Offensive Rebounds | 6 |
| 28 | Defensive Rebounds | 37 |
| 33 | Assists | 25 |
| 10 | Steals | 5 |
| 4 | Blocks | 2 |
| 7 | Turnovers | 12 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 7 | Total Turnovers | 13 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 11 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 17 |
| 18 | Fast Break Points | 11 |
| 62 | Points in Paint | 52 |
| 19 | Fouls | 22 |
| 5 | Largest Lead | 24 |
| 3 | Lead Changes | 3 |
| 15 | Percent Led | 82 |
Los Angeles Lakers Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Luka Doncic, G | Out | May 6 |
Indiana Pacers Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Sheppard, G | Out | Apr 12 |
| Jarace Walker, F | Out | Apr 12 |
| Andrew Nembhard, G | Out | Apr 11 |
| Aaron Nesmith, G | Out | Apr 11 |
| Pascal Siakam, F | Out | Apr 11 |
Game Information
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Attendance: 18,173 · Capacity:
Detroit
Cleveland
Milwaukee
Chicago2025-26 Pacific Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 LA Lakers |
- | 29 | W3 | 0.64634144 | 53 |
 Phoenix |
8 | 37 | W1 | 0.5487805 | 45 |
 LA Clippers |
11 | 40 | W1 | 0.5121951 | 42 |
 Golden State |
16 | 45 | L3 | 0.4512195 | 37 |
 Sacramento |
31 | 60 | L1 | 0.2682927 | 22 |
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