Austin Reaves leads Lakers to victory over Pacers with career-high 45 points
Austin Reaves scored a career-high 45 points as the Los Angeles Lakers triumphed over the Indiana Pacers 124-117 on Saturday, despite being without LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Rui Hachimura contributed 24 points to the Lakers’ performance on his 27th birthday. The Lakers' victory marks their fifth consecutive win and 11th in 13 games.
Los Angeles raced to a 25-point lead in the first half, with Reaves scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to help secure the win against Indiana, currently ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference.
LeBron James sat out due to left ankle soreness, while Luka Doncic remained on the bench for his third consecutive game as he recovers from a strained left calf. Both players were seen conversing throughout the game, preparing for their anticipated joint return against Utah on Monday.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 23 points, and Tyrese Halliburton added 19 points. The Pacers managed to cut down a significant deficit but faltered in the fourth quarter, suffering their fourth loss in 17 games.
Reaves almost missed the game due to a sore left elbow but decided to play with the two stars out. He made a significant impact, scoring 14 points in the first quarter and adding a burst of eight points early in the fourth, culminating in his career-best mark on a steal and dunk with 7:37 remaining, which drew a standing ovation.
Takeaways
- Pacers: Struggled in the first half without Myles Turner, who was sidelined with a head injury.
- Lakers: Newcomer Jordan Goodwin played 25 minutes, making a crucial 3-pointer late in the game.
Key moment: The Lakers enjoyed another outstanding first half, making 15 of 21 shots and leading 53-28 midway through the second quarter.
The Pacers will host the Knicks on Tuesday, and the Lakers will face the Jazz on Monday.
