Pacers’ 3-point flurry buries Lakers in James’ worst loss
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Bojan Bogdanovic scored 24 points and the Indiana Pacers tied an NBA franchise record by making 19 3-pointers in a 136-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, handing LeBron James the most lopsided loss of his career.
James’ teams lost by 36 points twice previously.
Myles Turner had 22 points and Thaddeus Young finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists to help the Pacers pick up their third consecutive victory.
James had 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his second game back since injuring his groin on Christmas Day. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
JaVale McGee had 16 points for the Lakers, who have lost two straight and six of their last eight. This time, the Lakers never had a chance.
Bogdanovic barely needed two minutes to reach double figures as he staked the Pacers to a 10-2 lead, a deficit from which Los Angeles never recovered.
After the Lakers closed to 12-8, Indiana scored five straight, extended the lead to 28-21 and used a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Edmond Sumner to make it 33-26 after one quarter. Aaron Holiday’s 3 early in the second quarter gave Indiana a 42-28 lead. And when Los Angeles finally cut the deficit to 44-34, the Pacers answered with a 14-4 run.
They led 69-43 at the half, extended the lead to 83-53 on Tyreke Evans’ 3 with 7:31 left in the third quarter and the Lakers never got closer than 25 again.
TIP-InS
Lakers: Played without Lonzo Ball (sprained left ankle) and Josh Hart (left patella tendinitis). ... James certainly was not at his usual level. He missed three of his first five shots, was beaten on defense three times in the opening minutes and had five turnovers in the first half. James did become the fifth player in league history to top the 32,000-point mark . ... Los Angeles has lost six straight in Indy, where it last won in March 2013. ... Lance Stephenson had 13 points while Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram each had 12.