LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rookie Andrew Nembhard hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer and the Indiana Pacers rallied from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a stunning 116-115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on the night on Monday.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 24 points and tied the game with 39 seconds left for the Pacers, who trailed 101-84 early in the fourth. LeBron James hit a one-handed shot with 20.9 seconds left and Myles Turner missed the next 3-point attempt for Indiana, but Halliburton got a long rebound and eventually found Nembhard alone on the perimeter with a crosscourt pass.
Canada’s second-round pick out of Gonzaga drilled his fourth 3-pointer of the night over the outstretched arm of the onrushing James. The bucket crushed the crowd in Los Angeles and sparked a wild group celebration on the court that even included Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard.
“I think you stay calm (because) you work in the gym at times like this,” Nembhardt said. “You just have to bring your confidence and when it comes, you just have to energize the team in that way. I think it was a great team win. We had a lot of contributions from a lot of guys and at this point it was just my turn to step up.
Halliburton had 14 assists and rookie Benedict Maturin added 23 points for the Pacers, who dramatically avoided their first back-to-back losses since October.
“To be able to hang in there, keep your eyes on the rim and let it go through a 6-9, 6-10 player is special,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “When you have success like tonight, when you overcome some adversity to find a way, it’s just a joyous moment that everybody can appreciate.”
Anthony Davis had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who were on their way to their sixth win in seven games before their defense and ball movement faltered. Davis missed one of two free throws right after the Pacers missed three straight passes and a last-minute jump shot, leaving the door open for Nembhard’s potential heroics.
James had 21 points and seven rebounds, while Russell Westbrook scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half and energized a crowd that seemed excited to witness a breakthrough night for the Lakers, who got off to a slow start while Indiana didn’t finish with a 20-8 run in a disastrous final five minutes.
“I wish we could have been a lot more aggressive, continued to play with tempo and continued to be organized and continue to move the ball,” Lakers coach Darwin Hamm said. “And that falls on me.”
TIPS
Pacers: Buddy Hield scored 15 points, hitting five of six 3-pointers. … Injured Daniel Theis played alongside the Lakers’ Dennis Schroder on Germany’s third-place EuroBasket team. Theis has yet to make his Pacers debut after knee surgery.
Lakers: Patrick Beverley served the third game of his three-game suspension for pushing Phoenix’s DeAndre Ayton last week. Schroder had eight points and four assists for the third straight game. … Lakers fan Jaime Murray hit a shot well past midcourt to win $75,000 between the third and fourth quarters. He celebrated by hitting Greedy and getting hugs from most of the Lakers roster.
THE SAME COMMANDS
Westbrook, Hield and Turner were the main characters in months of trade rumors between these clubs, but no agreement was reached. Turner’s positional versatility and Hield’s outside shooting seem to make them ideal for the current Lakers, but the 17-time champions are unwilling or unable to match Indiana’s price.
FURTHER
Pacers: At Sacramento on Wednesday.
Lakers: Host Portland on Wednesday.
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