Jordan Clarkson exploded off the bench for 33 points to go with 7 rebounds and 7 assists to help the Lakers pull away from the Pacers 86-99 to snap a two game skid. Larry Nance Jr. followed with a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Julius Randle lead all starters in scoring with 14 points while Kyle Kuzma closely followed with 13 points to go with 5 rebounds.
Final Score: vs. Indiana 86-99 [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180119/INDLAL#/recap
Next Game: vs. New York (01/21)
Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*
Wow, this game is one of the most unorthodox ways the Lakers can do to pull off a win. I'm gonna address the biggest lowlight of this game to get it out of the way: free throw shooting. 2-14 from the charity stripe. Clarkson was the only one who made two of those free throws. The rest of the players who stepped up to the line: Kuzma, Randle, Ennis, Nance, and Lopez didn't make any. There's no sugarcoating it, free throws have been the Lakers' glaring weakness this season. By shooting at such a pourous percentage, this was the Lakers' game to lose. There were a couple of stints where the Pacers were making a couple of runs. But, luckily they missed some shots and they tried to play hero ball by forcing the offense through Victor Oladipo and Lance Stephenson. Indiana also shot poorly from three which helped masked the Lakers' woes from the free throw line. Obviously, we'll take the Pacers' shooting 8% from deep over the Lakers' shooting 14% from the free throw line here and the overall win. Jordan Clarkson needed one of those "break out of the funk" type of game and he got one here. When the Pacers made a run, Clarkson responded with a score or setting up teammates in transition. Nance, Caruso, and Kuzma benefited from Clarkson's all-around game. He did a good job this game being aggressive as a scorer and facilitator, something the backup guards need to do with Lonzo out. Ennis showed flashes of that during the first half too before foul trouble hampered him. The 2014 draft class for the Lakers has been a forgotten one in the midst of the trade rumors. With no Zo, no B.I., no KCP, Clarkson stepped it up as did Randle as a starter. Randle was efficient again with 14 points on 7-12 shooting and displayed some solid activity on the defensive end. But then again, Clarkson gets the spotlight with his elevated play to give the Lakers the W this game.
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