Los Angeles Lakers forward-guard Cam Reddish (5) is intercepted by Indiana Pacers center-forward Myles Turner, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) scores during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) catches a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward-guard Cam Reddish (5) is intercepted by Indiana Pacers center-forward Myles Turner, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) catches a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) scores during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam dunks the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Indiana Pacers forward Isaiah Jackson scores during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham calls for a timeout during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves, right, defends against Indiana Pacers guard-forward Andrew Nembhard (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Indiana Pacers guard-forward Andrew Nembhard (2) dribbles past Los Angeles Lakers guard Spencer Dinwiddie (26) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam scores during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) dribbles past Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward-center Anthony Davis, center, scores during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) reacts during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) concentrates before shooting a free throw during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Indiana Pacers guard-forward Andrew Nembhard (2) dribbles during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, center, reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Lakers forward-center Anthony Davis (3) reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
LOS ANGELES — When the Lakers started this stretch of 12 of 14 games in Los Angeles back in late February, the hope was that they could use this homestand to put themselves in a better position for postseason play.
Sunday’s 150-145 win over the Indiana Pacers, the Lakers’ third consecutive victory to put them at 39-32 on the season, ensured momentum will be on their side before they start a week-long road trip that could have significant postseason implications.
“Offensively we were very sharp,” LeBron James said. “We know how high-powered offense they are, so they’re not going to stop playing no matter how far they get down or how far they up or whatever the case may be. So it’s a good win for us.”
In a rematch of the Dec. 9 In-Season Tournament championship game, Anthony Davis was once again too much for the Pacers (40-32), finishing with 36 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Davis had a pair of late buckets to help secure the victory for the Lakers, who are seven games over .500 for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
Spencer Dinwiddie, who started in place of D’Angelo Russell (sidelined because of a non-COVID illness), finished with 25 points and five assists. His point total was his highest since joining the Lakers last month, besting the 11 points he scored in Friday’s win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
“He was being aggressive,” Davis said. “As you seen last game, he’s starting to find his way and he was aggressive last game and he just carried that over. Being himself, hit some threes, attacking the basket, being the Spencer that we need him to be.”
Davis added: “How he played [Sunday], we need him to play like that the rest of the season. Instant offense that he can score when he wants. He’s a big guard. He can defend. We are going to need him to be the Spencer he was [Sunday].”
James finished with 26 points (8-for-19 shooting), 10 assists and five rebounds while Austin Reaves had 25 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Taurean Prince added 14 points (6-for-8 shooting) off the bench.
The Lakers’ point total was their highest since scoring 155 points in a Jan. 2, 1987 win over the Phoenix Suns. They shot 56.2% from the field (50 of 89), 48% on 3s (12 of 25) and 88.4% on free throws (38 of 43).
“It’s…so common now [because] guys are more skilled, there’s more freedom of movement, the 3-ball and the way it’s impacted the game, you’re going to have these high-scoring games like this, man,” coach Darvin Ham said. “The skill level of these guys now and the way teams are shooting the 3-ball and the volume of 3s that we’re seeing from game to game, it makes it where this has become instead of something that’s foreign, it’s totally common now. So, you just got to try to keep up as best you can.”
The Lakers opened the game up in the third, outscoring the Pacers, who were led by Pascal Siakam’s 36 points and 12 rebounds, 44-31 to take a 116-99 lead into the fourth.
Lakers’ offensive play provides optimism going forward
“I’ve been in this building enough times to know and understand that you gotta be really keyed into the details of the game,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said pregame. “You get things going willy-nilly at all. I mean, the building erupts. LeBron’s going coast to coast and they just got the whole thing going.
“You fly in there, get a shot locked and fly out of bounds underneath the basket. I mean, you’re giving up two or three points, it’s almost guaranteed.”
A late barrage of 3s from the Pacers, who made three shots from beyond the arc in 16 seconds in the game’s last minute, kept the game close but Cam Reddish sealed the victory with a steal and free throw.
The Lakers will kick off their six-game road trip with matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Offensively, we wanna continue to share the ball,” James said. “We wanna continue to get high-assist games, low-turnover games, and just keep playing together. If we do that, we’ll be OK.”
