Deadspin | Luka Doncic joins elite club with 44 points in Lakers win

Luka Doncic recorded 44 points, 9 rebounds and three steals in three quarters of motion to guide the Los Angeles Lakers to a strong 128-117 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Friday night time.

Doncic made seven 3-pointers and notched his tenth 40-point effort of the season to interrupt a tie with Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards for essentially the most this season. He additionally grew to become the fourth completely different Laker to file 10 or extra 40-point video games in a season, becoming a member of a trio of Corridor of Famers — Kobe Bryant (4 occasions), Elgin Baylor (three) and Jerry West (three)

Doncic’s scoring was wanted on an evening in which the Lakers have been with out LeBron James (left elbow, left foot). James injured the elbow in a tough fall throughout Thursday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Austin Reaves scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter earlier than fouling out for Los Angeles, which gained for the fourth time in the previous 5 video games. Luke Kennard had 15 points and 7 rebounds off the bench, Rui Hachimura scored 13 points and Marcus Sensible added 11.

Pascal Siakam scored 26 points for the Pacers, who misplaced their eighth straight sport. Indiana has dropped the previous 5 video games by a mean of 19.6 points.

Andrew Nembhard added 17 points and eight assists and Jay Huff scored 16 points for the Pacers. T.J. McConnell added 10 points off the bench for Indiana.

The Lakers, who additionally have been with out Deandre Ayton (left knee), shot 52.9% from the sphere and made 17 of 37 from 3-point vary.

Indiana linked on 46.9% of its makes an attempt however was simply 8 of 35 from behind the arc.

Doncic was 5 of 5 from 3-point vary and scored 22 points in the opening quarter because the Lakers led 35-27.

Doncic scored seven points in the second quarter to extend his output to 29 as Los Angeles led 64-51 on the break.

He tallied 15 points in the Lakers’ 35-point third quarter earlier than exiting. He capped the interval in model by banking in a 3-pointer with 5.5 seconds left as Los Angeles took a 99-80 benefit heading into the ultimate quarter.

The Pacers have been inside 103-89 after a 3-pointer by Jarace Walker. Nonetheless, Reaves scored 9 points throughout an 11-2 surge because the Lakers pushed the result in 114-91 with 7:34 left. The margin topped out at 24 earlier than Indiana narrowed the rating.

–Area Stage Media