The Lakers’ hot run on the road
The Los Angeles Lakers are number one in the Western Conference and co-owners of the best record in the league at 24-3. Inside that great start is the smooth run they are having on the road, where they have won 14 consecutive times (14-1 overall). That lone road loss was actually in Staples Center against the LA Clippers, so they’ve haven’t really lost outside of their home floor.
As always, the key to the Lakers’ victory lies between their two superstars: LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The two have done a stellar job powering the Lake Show and have also done particularly well in these past few outings. James is scoring 29.6 points and dishing out 10 assists per game in his last five, while Davis is at 33 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in that same span.
LeBron may also have a lot of motivation against the Indiana Pacers as he and the last year’s Lakers absolutely got their butt kicked for 42 points the last time he was in that arena. Davis, meanwhile, will be in a tough match-up against Indy’s two big men down low: Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis.
Ready to squash the Lake Show
The Indiana Pacers will come in boasting an 18-9 record. They have also won six of their last seven games at home and 11 of their last 14 overall.
Personnel-wise, the Pacers are very equipped to match-up against what the Lakers have to offer. Along with having two solid big men to bang bodies with Davis, they also own swingmen – TJ Warren (17.8 PPG and Jeremy Lamb (14.6 PPG) – that can apply damage inside and out, especially when it’s against LeBron’s suspect defense.
Rising point guard Malcolm Brogdon, on the other hand, is in an interesting face-off with the Laker guards. His breakout season currently makes him the Pacers’ leader in points (19.1) and assists per game (7.7).
PREDICTION:
The Pacers take this after a hard-fought battle, 106-103.
The two teams are among the top five scoring defenses in the league, so we may have to prepare for a considerably low-scoring, defensive slugfest.
