Dustin Dopirak

Luka Doncic goes off for 44 points as James-less Lakers blow out Pacers Luka Doncic scored 44 points and the Pacers made just 8 of 35 3-pointers as the Lakers blew out Indiana 128-117 on Friday night.

Gamer from that one. Luka goes off for 44. Lakers win 128-117: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Lakers up 99-80 heading into the fourth. Lakers won the third 35-29. Pacers 9 of 21 from the floor, 3 of 9 from 3, 8 of 12 at the line, 1.06 per possession. Lakers 12 of 24, 3 of 9, 8 of 8, 1.32 per possession.

Pacers up 30-22 on points in the paint. It's 24-24 on the glass and the Pacers are up 10-0 on second-chance points. Lakers up 7-4 on fast-break points. Seven turnovers each. Lakers up 7-4 on points off turnovers.

Lakers won the second quarter 29-24. Pacers 10 of 24 from the floor, 1 of 11 from 3, 3 of 3 at the line, 0.95 per possession. Lakers 10 of 22, 4 of 10, 5 of 6, 1.09 per possession.

Lakers up 64-51 at halftime. Pacers 23 of 55 from the floor, 2 of 19, 3 of 3, 0.97 per possession. Lakers 22 of 44, 11 of 20, 9 of 11, 1.21 per possession. Huff 11 points, Nembhard 10. Luka 29 on 9 of 15 shooting, 6 of 10 from 3.

Lakers up 35-27 after one. Pacers 13 of 31 from the floor, 1 of 8 from 3, no FTs, 1.00 per possession. Lakers 12 of 22, 7 of 10, 4 of 5, 1.34 per possession. Luka 22 points, 7 of 9 from the floor. 5 of 5 from 3. (!!!!).

Not a new starting five tonight. Pacers - Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff. Lakers: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes.

Mathurin reminds Pacers of his scoring talent: 'He came out of the womb with 20 points' Rick Carlisle expected former Pacers G Bennedict Mathurin to be a good fit with the Clippers and his 23 points Wednesday was a sign he was correct.

"He came out of the womb with 20 points." On Bennedict Mathurin with the Clippers and his first game against his old team. www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Pacers lose at Clippers behind efficient Bennedict Mathurin in first game vs former team Pascal Siakam returned from injury, and the Pacers played their first game against a guard they traded. Here's what stood out.

The gamer from tonight. Pacers couldn't stop Bennedict Mathurin or Kawhi Leonard in a 130-107 loss: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Clippers up 102-77 heading into the fourth. They won the third 39-26. Pacers 7 of 19 from the floor 3 of 12 from 3, 9 of 13 at the line, 0.97 per possession. Clippers 12 of 20, 5 of 10, 10 of 13, 1.41 per possession.

Clippers up 40-24 on points in the paint, 23-20 on the glass, 6-2 on second-chance points, 8-2 on fast-break points. Pacers nine turnovers. Clippers four. Clippers up 12-3 on points off turnovers.

Pacers actually won the second quarter 26-21. Pacers 9 of 22 from the floor, 2 of 8 from 3, 6 of 7 at the line, 0.93 per possession. Clippers 8 of 20, 0 of 5, 5 of 6, 0.82 per possession.

Clippers up 63-51 at the half. Pacers 18 of 41 from the floor, 5 of 16 from 3, 10 of 11 at the line, 0.95 per possession. Clippers 26 of 48, 3 of 14, 8 of 9, 1.19 per possession. Siakam 21 points, Huff 10, Leonard 20 points. Lopez and Mathurin 10 each.

Clippers up 42-25 after one. Pacers 9 of 20 from the floor, 3 of 9 from 3, 4 of 4 at the line, 0.97 per possession. Clippers 18 of 28, 3 of 9, 3 of 3, 1.54 per possession. Leonard 12 points.

Pacers starters: Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff. Clippers; Kris Dunn, Kobe Sanders, Derrick Jones Jr., Kawhi Leonard, Brook Lopez.

Ivica Zubac still out, but three Pacers starters upgraded to questionable Ivica Zubac won't play in his return to Los Angeles, but Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard are questionable and could play Wednesday.

Story on the injury report. Ivica Zubac still out. Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith all questionable: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Asked Bennedict Mathurin about the next game: at home against the Indiana Pacers, the team that drafted him in 2022 and traded him last month

Mathurin: "Pretty much, pure love, you know what I'm saying? I was 20 years old when I got drafted over there.… it's going to be fun"

'Everybody's watching': Micah Potter producing with option on the line Micah Potter is getting extended work with Ivica Zubac out and has averaged 20 points per game in the last three games on excellent shooting splits.

The Pacers' season has reached the point where the results don't particularly matter. But there are players for whom every play still matters. Micah Potter, who has a club option for next season, is one of those and he's stepping up in the moment: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Grizzlies up 91-83 heading into the fourth. Grizzlies won the third 26-23. Pacers 9 of 19 from the floor, 5 of 11 from 3, 0 of 2 at the line, 1.01 per possession. Grizzlies 10 of 22, 2 of 5, 4 of 4, 1.01 per possession.

Grizzlies up 28-22 in the paint, 22-16 on the glass. Pacers up 7-6 on second-chance. Grizzlies up 11-6 on fast breaks. Pacers nine turnovers, Grizzlies 5. Grizzlies up 11-5 on points off turnovers.

Grizzlies won second quarter 31-26. Pacers 10 of 18 from the floor, 4 of 8 from 3, 2 of 5 at the line, six turnovers, 1.03 per possession in 2Q. Grizzlies 12 of 28, 4 of 12, 3 of 3, two TOs. 1.22 per possession.

Grizzlies up 65-60 at half. Pacers 22 of 42 from the floor, 8 of 17 from 3, 8 of 11 at the line, 1.13 per possession. Grizzlies 25 of 53, 9 of 25, 6 of 6, 1.26 per possession. Jay Huff 9 points. Jaylen Wells 15, Taylor Hendricks 14.

Teams tied at 24 after one. Pacers 12 of 24 from the floor, 4 of 9 from 3, 6 of 6 at the line, 1.23 per possession. Grizzlies 13 of 25, 5 of 13, 5 of 5, 1.29 per possession.

Pacers unique starting lineup No. 34: Kam Jones, Ben Sheppard, Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin, Jay Huff. Grizz: Walter Clayton Jr., Scotty Pippen Jr. Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson, Olivier Maxence-Prosper.

Pacers promote Boom's Jalen Slawson to two-way deal; replacing Jackson The Pacers announced the promotion of Noblesville Boom forward Jalen Slawson to two-way contract status. Slawson is averaging 19.2 points per game.

Brief story on Jalen Slawson, whose two-way contract became official: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Pacers G Quenton Jackson's path to the NBA was the long way: 'I took every step possible' Quenton Jackson needed prep school, junior college and lots of G League games to get to the Pacers, but he's made an impact in Indiana.

Also too, shameless plug on Quenton Jackson's long journey to getting a standard deal: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Quenton Jackson signs 3-year deal with Pacers; what we know Quenton Jackson had his two-way contract converted to a standard deal; the first of pro basketball career

The story on Quenton Jackson finally getting an NBA standard contract in his fourth year as a pro: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Obi Toppin's return brings some joy to Pacers: 'A light for all of us' Obi Toppin scored three points and grabbed two rebounds on Thursday in his first game back after missing four months with a broken right foot.

On the return of Obi Toppin, and why it matters that the Pacers are getting him back on the floor even in a doomed season: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Another embarrassing second quarter leads to Pacers being routed by Hornets, 133-109 Hornets' rookie Kon Knueppel set the NBA rookie record for 3-pointers in 133-109 victory over the Pacers

The gamer on a route. Brandon Miller with 33, Kon Kneuppel with 28 and the rookie season record for 3s. Hornets win 133-109: www.indystar.com/story/sports...

Hornets up 107-82 after three. Hornets won the third 40-36. Pacers 14 of 23 from the floor, 5 of 9 from 3, 3 of 3 at the line, 1.42 per possession in the period. Hornets 16 of 25, 5 of 11, 3 of 4, 1.49 per possession.