Davis, James help Lakers thwart Pacers’ late surge
Anthony Davis had 36 points and 16 rebounds, Lebron James added 26 points and 10 assists, and the host Los Angeles Lakers survived Indiana’s strong fourthquarter comeback for a 150-145 victory Sunday.
Spencer Dinwiddie had 26 points in his biggest offensive game since joining the Lakers, who have won three straight and five of seven. Los Angeles led 116-99 entering the fourth quarter, but the Pacers closed the gap to three points down the stretch.
The Lakers held on by scoring 10 points in the final minute — including six free throws by Austin Reaves, who finished with 25 points in the Lakers’ highest-scoring performance of the season.
Pascal Siakam scored 19 of his 36 points in the third quarter for Indiana, which dropped to 2-1 on a five-game road trip after playing dismal defense in the second and third quarters, allowing 86 points. Myles Turner added 20 points and T.J. Mcconnell 17 for the Pacers.
All-star Tyrese Haliburton awoke from a quiet 12-point performance to hit two 3-pointers in the final seconds, trimming the Lakers’ lead to three points with 20 seconds to play.
Los Angeles held on when Dinwiddie made one free throw and Haliburton missed a 3 before Cam Reddish stole Doug Mcdermott’s pass with three seconds left.
■ Bucks 118, Thunder 93: At Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 30 points and 19 rebounds for Milwaukee, which won for the fourth time in five games and knocked Oklahoma City out of the West lead. The Thunder shot a season-worst 37.1 percent and posted its lowest point total of 2023-24. Khris Middleton had 11 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for the Bucks in his second triple-double and first since Jan. 20, 2018.
■ Timberwolves 114, Warriors 110: At Minneapolis, Anthony Edwards hit three free throws in the final 12 seconds and totaled 23 points for Minnesota, which tied a season high with 21 3-pointers in its fifth win in six games. Stephen Curry scored 31 points for Golden State but missed a tying 3-point try with 1:27 left. Naz Reid had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Rudy Gobert 17 points and 12 rebounds for Minnesota.
■ 76ers 121, Clippers 107: At Los Angeles, Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey each scored 24 points for Philadelphia in its second win in seven games. James Harden had 12 points and 14 assists in his first game against the 76ers since forcing his way out of Philadelphia in November. The 10-time Allstar missed all six of his 3-point tries. Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points for Los Angeles, which has lost five of its past eight.
■ Heat 121, Cavaliers 84: At Miami, Haywood Highsmith scored 18 points, part of a 59-point effort by Miami’s reserves, as the Heat buit a 45-point fourth-quarter lead — their biggest cushion since leading Chicago by 46 in a 2013 playoff game. Miami’s biggest lead this season had been
33, also against Cleveland, on Nov. 22.
■ Pelicans 114, Pistons 101: At Detroit, Zion Williamson scored 36 points on 13-for14 shooting for New Orleans, which won for the fifth time in six games and dealt Detroit its sixth loss in a row. Chimezu Metu and Malachi Flynn each scored 17 points for the Pistons (12-59), who were without four of their five starters and their top reserve because of injuries. Detroit needs four wins in its final 11 games to avoid exceeding the franchise record of 66 losses.