The Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers meet Wednesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip-off is at 7:30 PM ET. Both teams hold the No. 4 seed in their conferences, making this a matchup with playoff positioning implications.
The Lakers beat the Pacers 124-117 in their last meeting on February 8. That win snapped a two-game losing streak against Indiana. The Pacers have won five in a row, while the Lakers have lost three straight and seven of their last ten games. With just over ten games left in the season, every result matters.
Pacers Preview – Defense and Balance Fuel the Win Streak
The Pacers are finding ways to win with better defense and a deep scoring rotation. They’ve allowed 115.2 points per game this year, which is a big improvement from last season’s 120.2. That difference has helped them in close games and kept them near the top of the East standings.
Obi Toppin has been a key contributor during the five-game win streak. He’s averaging 16.8 points per game in March and is shooting 46% from beyond the arc. His 20-point game with six made threes against the Timberwolves showed how he can stretch the floor for the Pacers’ offense.
Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam remain the team leaders. Haliburton had 24 points and 11 assists in the last game and leads the Pacers in steals. Siakam adds 20.8 points and 7 rebounds a game. The starting five includes strong wing play from Aaron Nesmith and solid rim protection from Myles Turner, who had four blocks last game.
Lakers Preview – Can Doncic and LeBron End the Slide?
Los Angeles has hit a rough patch and needs to get back on track. The Lakers have a 43-28 record but are trending in the wrong direction. With the Western Conference race tight, every loss puts them closer to falling into the play-in spots.
Luka Doncic has led the team in scoring since arriving in the trade deadline move. He’s putting up 27.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game in 18 outings with the Lakers. In the loss to Orlando, he had 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, but the rest of the team couldn’t match his production.
LeBron James is still a big part of the Lakers’ plans, averaging nearly 25 points with over 8 assists and rebounds per game. He’s listed as probable for this game. Austin Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith offer support on the wings, while Jaxson Hayes starts at center. The Lakers are 15-19 on the road this year and have struggled to close games late during their losing stretch.
Key Players to Watch
Luka Doncic and Tyrese Haliburton are the stars to watch in this game. Both are lead guards who control the pace of the offense. Doncic is coming off five games with 30+ points, while Haliburton continues to average double-digit assists.
Another matchup to watch is Andrew Nembhard against LeBron James. Nembhard is usually assigned to the top scorer on the other team. He just held Anthony Edwards to 17 points on 1-for-11 from three. If he can slow LeBron down, Indiana will have the edge on defense.
Pascal Siakam vs Dorian Finney-Smith will also be important. Siakam is Indiana’s top scorer and plays physical in the paint. Finney-Smith needs to bring defense and rebounding to keep Siakam in check.
Stat Breakdown and Team Comparisons
The Pacers are one of the top scoring teams in the league. They average over 117 points per game and rank second in the NBA in points scored in each quarter. The Lakers are more balanced but are just 19th in points per game and struggle in the third quarter, where Indiana has an edge.
Indiana also has a strong home record at 24-9. They shoot better at home and force more turnovers. The Lakers, on the other hand, are below .500 on the road and have seen recent games slip away late. Both teams rank near the bottom in rebounding, but Indiana does a better job protecting the rim with Myles Turner.
From a shooting perspective, the Lakers are more efficient overall, ranking 9th in field goal percentage. Indiana attempts more threes and relies on ball movement to create open shots. That matchup between pace and efficiency will be key.
Betting Prediction
The Pacers are favored by 1.5 points at home, and the total is set at 235.5. Indiana is hot right now, winning five in a row and covering in three of their last four. They’ve been consistent at home, while the Lakers are fading late in the season and have not covered in five of their last six games.
This is a good spot to back Indiana. The Pacers have better depth and defensive momentum, especially on their home court. Look for Indiana to win 118-112. They should cover the spread and keep their streak alive.
Pick: Pacers -1.5
