It was off to a fairly calm end of the night, LeBron James had started the work seriously, Anthony Davis continued on his badass rhythm, Russell Westbrook released a big third quarter and Austin Reaves played the fourth musketeers. Everyone is laughing, everything is fine in the best of worlds, we continue.
The home stats of a match not necessarily going to end as it ended
Except you know the adage: NBA, where amazing happens.
And at the Lakers this season, “amazing” is a way of life.
Five wins in six games, the only loss of the lot against very solid Suns, it seems that the Lakers are better. And faced with the Pacers at the start of the Californian roadtrip, we say to ourselves that everything should go well. But looking into it a little we discover that the five victories of LAL were obtained against the Spurs (… three times), against the Pistons and against the Nets. And we also remember, well, that the Pacers rookie Bennedict Mathurin had declared in September that he was waiting to see with his own eyes if this famous LeBron James was that strong.
Well, does that mean that this match will be more interesting than it seems?
Answer: yes.
A match in three stages. A first half rather well managed by the Lakers and by the duo LeBron James / Anthony Davis, even if as usual Benny mathurin slams his ten points as soon as he comes into play. Second chapter in the second half, with the Lakers this time…seductive. Russell Westbrook is radiant and is rubbing off on his friends, the smiles are multiplying and we feel that this match is two highlights away from being one. After a no-look pass from RW for Wenyen Gabriel the Angelinos lead 101-84, there are then 10 minutes left and the decision is made in the living room to go and toast some bread from the day before to spread semi-salted butter on it.
Three minutes later the sandwiches are ready but Aaron Nesmith has planted two from the car park, well assisted by the trickster Mathurin, and there are already only seven points left. Definitely, these Lakers will never leave us alone. LeBron James and Anthony Davis then held the gap around 10 points but Benny never stopped scoring, Tyrese Haliburton pounded from 3-pointers and Myles Turner imitated him three minutes from the end. Buddy Hield takes part, Andrew Nembhard makes himself known to Californian fans for the first time, Hali does not want to let go but LeBron James flexes a big blow 20 seconds from the end, giving the Lakers a two-point lead, 115-113. Last possession for the Pacers, but what can happen then.
Andrew Nembhard hits the #TissotBuzzerBeater to win it for the @Pacers! #TimingEmotions pic.twitter.com/lFv43RTHxG
— NBA (@NBA) November 29, 2022
A much too short shot from Myles Turner, a long rebound which obviously does not go in favor of the Lakers, and therefore Andrew Nembhard, rookie by trade and among the nice surprises of this start to the season in Indiana, who will s offer his first great moment in his career by planting this game winner on the face of LeBron James himself, why make it simple when you can make it complicated. The chance of a rebound sometimes does things well – or badly – but when we see the start of the season of the two franchises, we finally say to ourselves that, perhaps, chance… is not necessarily one.