The Lakers held a pair of double-digit leads in the fourth quarter of their matchup against the Pacers. It didn't matter.
Despite leading by as much as 17 points in the final frame, Los Angeles fell to Indiana by a final score of 116-115 on Monday. Two rookies stole the show in the fourth quarter for the Pacers. Bennedict Mathurin sparked the comeback with eight of his 23 points and Andrew Nembhard played hero by nailing the game-winning 3-pointer.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham took responsibility for his team's collapse down the stretch. Not only did they give up 32 points in the fourth quarter, but their offense ground to a halt.
"That falls on me," Ham said of L.A.'s collapse offensively. "That falls on me. I'll take responsibility for that."
It sure wasn't pretty.
After scoring 32 points in the first quarter, 30 in the second and 31 in the third, the Lakers were held to 22 points on 8-for-22 shooting in the fourth quarter. Most of those attempts came in the paint, where Myles Turner and Jalen Smith were able to impact a number of shots.
Despite finishing with a game-high 25 points, Anthony Davis attempted only two shots down the stretch. Russell Westbrook continued his strong play with eight points on 3-for-6 shooting, but LeBron James struggled with four points on 2-for-8 shooting.
"It's not just on him. It's on us too," Davis said about Ham taking the blame. "I mean, we got enough years in the league for the guys that were on the floor late game to execute. Obviously, he's a coach, you take the blame. But it's on us players to go out there and execute.
"We know what we're doing. We're talented enough and smart enough on the floor to win a basketball game like that. ... So it's not on him."
THE ROOK CALLED GAME. https://t.co/oOxgVHxGfM pic.twitter.com/wcUwFGej8f
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 29, 2022
The Lakers fell to 7-12 with the loss, putting them two games behind the Timberwolves and Mavericks for the last Play-In spot.
Los Angeles has a tough stretch ahead of it. After a home game against the Trail Blazers, the Lakers will play six straight on the road against the Bucks, Wizards, Cavaliers, Raptors, 76ers and Pistons.
