The atmosphere was electric. The clock was winding down, the scoreboard showed a narrow Pacers lead, and the crowd was already celebrating another home win. But then, as if scripted by the basketball gods, LeBron James received the ball in the dying seconds and, with a precise, almost surgical touch, sealed a dramatic 120–119 victory for the Los Angeles Lakers over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night (26).
It felt like a blockbuster movie—full of tension, momentum shifts, and a jaw-dropping ending. LeBron, who had been quiet all night with 0-for-6 from three-point range in the first three quarters, delivered when it mattered most. And it wasn’t just the game-winning bucket: he finished with a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds, along with 7 assists, extending his record-breaking NBA streak of 1,283 consecutive games scoring 10+ points — just barely.
The star of the night, however, was Luka Doncic, who led the Lakers with 34 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and a scorching 6 three-pointers. Alongside him, Austin Reaves made a strong impact with 24 points, helping Los Angeles snap a three-game losing skid and move into a tie with the Memphis Grizzlies for fourth place in the Western Conference, reigniting hopes for a strong playoff push.
On the other side, the Pacers showed heart and resilience. Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 23 points, while Tyrese Haliburton orchestrated the offense masterfully with 18 assists and 16 points — the latter giving Indiana a 119–118 lead with just 42.2 seconds remaining. But in basketball, every second counts — and LeBron made sure of that.
With this loss, the Pacers saw two impressive streaks come to an end: five straight wins overall and eight straight at home, in a game full of twists, drama, and a playoff-like atmosphere.
Game Climax
The Lakers dominated the second and third quarters, holding a 118–112 lead with under two minutes to go. But Haliburton led a fierce 7-0 comeback run, putting the Pacers ahead. Doncic missed a mid-range floater in the final seconds, setting the stage for LeBron’s heroics. With nerves of steel, he barely tipped the ball into the hoop, careful not to commit offensive interference. Game over. Lakers win.
Key Stat
Despite LeBron going 0-for-5 from the field in the first half, the Lakers shot 52.4% overall and sank 10 three-pointers, outpacing Indiana’s 8 from beyond the arc.
