Austin Reaves delivered a career-best performance with 45 points, leading the surging Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday, despite being without LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
Rui Hachimura contributed 24 points on his 27th birthday as the Lakers extended their winning streak to five games, claiming victory in 11 of their last 13 matchups.
Los Angeles built a commanding 25-point lead in the first half, and Reaves took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points to help fend off Indiana, the Eastern Conference’s fourth-place team, even in the absence of their two superstars.
James was sidelined with left ankle soreness, while Dončić missed his third straight game, watching from the Lakers’ bench as he nears a return from a strained left calf suffered on Christmas. The two stars sat together, chatting throughout the game, as they anticipate making their joint debut on Monday against Utah.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 23 points, while Tyrese Haliburton added 19. Indiana fought back from a significant deficit but faltered in the final quarter, suffering just their fourth loss in 17 games.
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