Indiana Pacers reach new defensive peak to earn important win over LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers

The Pacers held the Lakers to 90 points last night

INDIANAPOLIS — Less than a week ago, the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers faced off in LA, and the Pacers defense looked flimsy. They conceded 150 points, which gave them no chance to win against LeBron James and company.

Last night, with the Lakers in Indianapolis for the only time this season, the Pacers had their best defensive night of the season. They held the star-studded Lakers to 90 points as they cruised to a win over the 2020 NBA Champions.

Pacers forward Pascal Siakam said after the game that there was a personal element to it. They were crushed by the purple and gold six days ago. They needed to have pride and respond, and they did.
"I think overall, we're doing a lot better," Siakam said. He's seen a defensive focus from the franchise since being traded to Indiana in January.

"A few adjustments and much greater edge," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle mentioned when asked to describe how his team gave up 60 fewer points against the same opponent in less than a week. He applauded the grit and guts of his team.

The specifics of the turnaround matter a great deal and say a lot about the Pacers ability to defend when they need to. Big picture, though, the story is that the Pacers allowed the fewest points they have in a game this season by far. Previously, they had only held a team under 100 points twice — Orlando scored 97 points in early March against Indiana, and Charlotte dropped in 99 just under two months ago.

The Magic and Hornets both have bottom-eight offenses in the NBA. The Lakers are 15th in offensive rating — they're an above average group when it comes to scoring, and they are sixth in points per 100 possessions since the All-Star break.

Yet the blue and gold neutralized them. LA shot 40.7% from the field and was a measly 5/30 from deep. They had 16 turnovers, which allowed the Pacers to get out in transition. That's where they love to play. Everything was clicking for the Pacers.

"That's exciting," Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard said during a postgame interview at his locker. He didn't realize that his team had their lowest points allowed of the season. "Big attention to detail game. Hard play. Not fouling," he added before saying that he thought his team played together.

When James and the rest of the Lakers scored 150 last Sunday, they were rolling in every way. They shot nearly 50% from deep, had just 10 turnovers, and scored 70 points in the paint. They attempted 43 shots from the charity stripe. It was a butt kicking.

Anthony Davis dominated, scoring 36 points and corralling 16 rebounds that night. He is a monster at his best, and Indiana needed to find a way to slow him down.

Friday, the Pacers cleaned up just about everything. "I just thought we did a good job locking in," star guard Tyrese Haliburton said after the game. LA only took 18 foul shots this time around, and they were held to just 50 points in the paint. They had more turnovers and fewer threes.

Davis, meanwhile, finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds. He was still terrific, but far less dominant than he was last weekend. He is the face of the size issues LA has presented Indiana this season, but the Pacers were far better at slowing him down in their building.

They focused on their scheme, communicated, and limited Los Angeles' number of quality attacks. There were very few possessions in which the Lakers had a wide open look via an accurate play finisher.

"We were doubling from time to time, and we... just did a good job of rotating and finishing possessions with rebounds," Haliburton said. Wing Aaron Nesmith, who defended James well all night without fouling, said the team executed how they needed to. He, like Nembhard, did not realize how effective the team's defense was until he checked out of the action late and saw the Lakers only had 88 points.

The Pacers made slight adjustments to their defensive approach from last Sunday's game, but their biggest change was their effort level and intensity. It lasted for 48 minutes. That's what it takes to topple a team like the Lakers, and in the middle of a playoff race, Indiana got it done on Friday.

"Very determined defensive effort top to bottom," Carlisle said. He believes it all started with the team's best players — Haliburton, SIakam, and Myles Turner. "We were really tied together as a team."

That's what it takes for the Pacers to win consistently. They are up to 15th in defense rating — above average — since the All-Star break. They hit a new peak last night, and it guided them to a win over the Lakers. If they can have more outings that follow a similar script across their final seven games, they will have a solid chance to reach the postseason.

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