How Every Laker Performed Against Pacers: Full Breakdown

The Los Angeles Lakers escaped Indiana with a dramatic 120-119 victory on Wednesday night, as LeBron James delivered a buzzer-beating tip-in to cap off a clutch fourth quarter. James, who struggled for most of the night, scoring just three points through three quarters, came alive when it mattered most, finishing with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists while extending his NBA-record streak of 10-point games to 1,283. 

Luka Doncic carried the offensive load with 34 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, draining six 3-pointers, while Austin Reaves added 24 points to help snap the Lakers’ three-game losing streak. Los Angeles appeared in control for much of the game, leading throughout the second and third quarters and holding a 118-112 advantage with 1:44 remaining. 

However, Indiana clawed back behind Tyrese Haliburton, whose three-point play gave the Pacers a 119-118 lead with 42.2 seconds left. After both teams came up empty on ensuing possessions, Doncic missed a midrange floater, but James was in a perfect position to tip in the game-winner at the horn. 

The victory was a much-needed boost for the Lakers, who had dropped seven of their previous 10 games but now sit tied with Memphis for the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Here is how every Laker performed against the Pacers. 

Luka Doncic: A+

Stats: 34 PTS, 7 REB (0 OREB, 7 DREB), 7 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 11-21 FG, 6-10 3PT, 6-7 FT, -16, 38 MIN

Doncic was the offensive engine for the Lakers, delivering a dominant 34-point performance while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out seven assists. He was lethal from beyond the arc, knocking down six three-pointers, and showcased his usual playmaking brilliance. Despite his strong performance, his -16 plus/minus reflected some defensive lapses and the Lakers’ struggles when he was on the floor. Nevertheless, his scoring and leadership were instrumental in securing the victory.

Austin Reaves: B+

Stats: 24 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 3 PF, 8-16 FG, 1-8 3PT, 7-7 FT, +6, 36 MIN

Reaves provided a strong scoring punch with 24 points, attacking the rim and capitalizing on all seven of his free-throw attempts. While his outside shot was off (1-for-8 from three), he made up for it with efficient overall shooting inside the arc. He added five assists and a steal, though his four turnovers and three fouls slightly diminished his impact. His +6 plus/minus showed he was one of the more effective Lakers on both ends.

LeBron James: B

Stats: 13 PTS, 13 REB (3 OREB, 10 DREB), 7 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 4-12 FG, 0-3 3PT, 5-5 FT, +5, 38 MIN

James had an uncharacteristically quiet night through three quarters but came alive in crunch time, capping it off with a game-winning tip-in. His 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists displayed his all-around contributions, though his shooting was subpar at 4-for-12 from the field. He maintained composure in the clutch, extending his historic streak of 10-point games, and his veteran presence helped the Lakers secure a much-needed victory.

Rui Hachimura: B-

Stats: 14 PTS, 4 REB (0 OREB, 4 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-5 FG, 4-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, -2, 28 MIN

Hachimura made the most of his opportunities, scoring 14 points on an ultra-efficient 4-for-5 from the field, including a perfect 4-for-4 from deep. While he wasn’t heavily involved in other areas—recording just four rebounds and one assist—his scoring efficiency provided a crucial boost off the bench. His -2 plus/minus suggests he was solid but not a game-changer, though his shooting helped space the floor.

Jaxson Hayes: C+

Stats: 13 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 6-6 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-3 FT, -13, 18 MIN

Hayes was perfect from the field, hitting all six of his shot attempts and finishing with 13 points in just 18 minutes. However, his lack of rebounding (only two boards) and struggles at the free-throw line (1-for-3) limited his overall impact. His -13 plus/minus indicated that while he was productive offensively, his presence on the floor coincided with Indiana’s runs, particularly on the defensive end.

Dorian Finney-Smith: C+

Stats: 11 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 4-7 FG, 3-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 31 MIN

Finney-Smith provided 11 points on efficient shooting, going 4-for-7 from the field and 3-for-5 from deep. He also contributed defensively with two steals and a block, though his four fouls limited his time on the court. His -1 plus/minus showed that he held his own, but his production wasn’t enough to significantly shift momentum in the Lakers’ favor.

Jarred Vanderbilt: C

Stats: 0 PTS, 6 REB (2 OREB, 4 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +24, 16 MIN

Vanderbilt went scoreless in 16 minutes but still found ways to contribute, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists. His energy and hustle helped the Lakers, as evidenced by his team-high +24 plus/minus, even though he didn’t have much of an impact on the offensive end. His four fouls limited his playing time, but his defensive presence was valuable.

Gabe Vincent: C

Stats: 6 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 2-6 FG, 2-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, -8, 22 MIN

Vincent struggled to find consistency, finishing with six points on 2-for-6 shooting, all of which came from beyond the arc. He had just one rebound and failed to record an assist, making his impact relatively minimal. His -8 plus/minus suggests he wasn’t particularly effective in his minutes, but his two made threes at least helped stretch the floor.

Jordan Goodwin: N/A

Stats: 2 PTS, 2 REB (2 OREB, 0 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -8, 7 MIN

Goodwin saw only seven minutes of action and contributed two points, two rebounds, and an assist. However, he struggled with efficiency, making just 1-of-4 shot attempts, and his limited playing time didn’t allow him to establish much of a rhythm. His -8 plus/minus reflected his minimal impact in his short stint.

Dalton Knecht: N/A

Stats: 3 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +18, 5 MIN

Knecht played just five minutes but made the most of them, hitting his only shot—a three-pointer—and finishing with three points and a rebound. His +18 plus/minus was the best on the team, though it’s difficult to draw conclusions from such limited minutes. Nonetheless, he provided a brief but efficient contribution off the bench.