Visiting Los Angeles Lakers will look like to rely on their superstars to pull them out of a decline on Wednesday, when they meet the growing Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.
Los Angeles (43-28) has dropped three in a row and seven out of 10 that go into play, as it is desperately trying to stick to a top-four seed in the tightly packed Western conference. Only three matches separate Lakers from the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves, currently in the first Play-in round.
On the first night of a four-match road trip, Los Angeles 118-106 fell to Orlando Magic, despite getting a combined 56 points from Luka Doncic and Lebron James. Doncic, who got 32 points Monday and has posted more than 30 points in five of six matches, knows that Lakers cannot afford to fall out of a top-sex guaranteed playoffs.
“We just have to get into the playoffs first. There is nothing guaranteed in this league,” Doncic said. “I think we have to talk more like a team. I have to talk more. I have to get everyone in position and be a good leader. I’m still new to the team, but I’m comfortable talking more and more.”
In 18 matches since he has been traded at Los Angeles, Doncic is an average of 27.2 points, 8.6 returns and 7.8 assists per match. James adds 24.9 ppg, 8.4 APG and 8.1 RPG.
James (left groin stem) is listed as likely.
Indiana (42-29), winner in five straight, can match their longest winning streak of the season with a home victory Wednesday. After their previous four wins came down to the thread, Pacers received a stress-free 119-103 victory on Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
A reliable source of crime for Indiana has come from Obi Toppin, which on average is 16.8 points in Pacer’s five-game winning line and shoots 46 percent on 3-score in March.
“He is a winner,” said Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle about Toppin, who had 20 points on six made triples Monday. “He is a team guy. He’s about trying to help the guys next to him. He has also really worked hard with his defense and recovered.”
At the other end of the court, Pacers has made a unified effort since last season to improve defensively, see their points permitted per match drops to 115.2 – down from 120.2 a year ago. One of the leaders on that front is the guard Andrew Nembhard, which is continuously encouraged to protect the opponents’ best goal scores. It was no different Monday, as Nembhard held Minnesota star Anthony Edwards to a hard earned 17 points on 1-for-11 3-point shooting.
“He is an all-NBA defense guy,” said teammate Tyrese Haliburton about Nembhard. “I think everyone understands that he is leading our defense, and the great hope we have had over the past 12 months has been because of him.”
Haliburton leads the team with 1.5 steals per match, just before Nembhard’s 1.3. Pascal Siakam Stoper Indiana with 20.8 points and seven returns per competition, while Haliburton Chips 18.5 ppg.
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