In the continued aftermath of one of the most shocking trades in NBA history, the streaking Los Angeles Lakers will host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday in what appears to be the final game before Luka Doncic’s anticipated debut in purple and gold.
Just a week after acquiring the superstar from the Dallas Mavericks, in a trade that cost 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and fellow starter Max Christie, the Lakers enter Saturday winners of four straight games and eight of the past nine.
It was reported Thursday that the Doncic era in Los Angeles will begin Monday against the Utah Jazz.
The Lakers still have plenty to focus on against the Pacers, who have won five of six.
Los Angeles began its current three-game homestand on Thursday with a 120-112 win over the Golden State Warriors. Los Angeles’ 40-year-old wonder LeBron James finished with a season-high 42 points and 17 rebounds to go along with eight assists.
James joined Michael Jordan as the only players to score 40 points in a game after their 40th birthday.
“The biggest thing is that we got the win, obviously,” James said. “But throughout my journey, any time I’ve been in a category or crossed paths with the greats, it’s always humbling. I love the game so much, so it’s pretty cool.”
Doncic isn’t the only newcomer that eventually will be paired with James, as the team acquired center Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that included trading away rookie Dalton Knecht.
As the Lakers continue to make their push in the final two months of the regular season, Williams adds another threat to a surging club.
“(Mark) is a young, athletic big who’s going to give us another lob threat along with Jaxson (Hayes),” James said. “I was surprised that we were able to get him, honestly.”
Williams, who averages 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds, could make his Lakers debut Saturday. James leads the team with 24.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
The Pacers, who were relatively quiet during Thursday’s trade deadline, rallied from a 22-point first-half deficit that night to earn a 119-112 road win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Indiana’s Pascal Siakam went for 33 points and 11 rebounds as the Pacers continued their ascent through the Eastern Conference standings. At 13-3 since the start of January, Indiana has climbed to the fourth seed in the East.
“We’re a team that’s going to use our depth and wear down the other team,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said. “That’s a big part of who we have to be. As long as we’re aggressive and helping each other out defensively, we give ourselves a chance to win.”
In Thursday’s victory, Myles Turner was inadvertently hit in the head by teammate Bennedict Mathurin and had to leave the game in the first quarter with a possible concussion. The Pacers’ center is currently listed as a game-time decision for Saturday.
Siakam paces Indiana with 20.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while Tyrese Haliburton adds 17.8 points and 8.5 assists per contest.
–Field Level Media
