Here is what you need to know before the Lakers host the Indiana Pacers.
1) Last time the Pacers visited Staples Center, the Lakers earned one of their best wins of last season. Kobe Bryant hit a hook shot with 12.4 seconds left to down Indiana, 88-87.
The game winner. Kobe Bryant #NBABallot
A photo posted by Los Angeles Lakers (@lakers) on Jan 4, 2015 at 9:02pm PST
2) Bryant’s availability for Sunday’s game is uncertain after playing 34 minutes in Saturday’s tilt in Portland. Like on Saturday, the Lakers will be without Lou Williams, who is not with the team due to the death of his grandfather.
3) Roy Hibbert is facing his former team for the first time. He spent each of his first seven NBA seasons in Indiana and is fourth among all-time Pacers in career blocks (990).
4) The Pacers have been scalding from beyond the 3-point line, hitting 44.6 percent of their triples, which ranks second in the NBA. Indiana hits 2.1 more 3’s per game than its opponents — the third-biggest margin.
5) Gene Hackman won’t be patrolling the sideline, but Hickory High will be well-represented, as the Pacers will don their “Hoosiers”-inspired uniforms.
It’s GAME DAY. We’re in our #HickoryPacers uniforms against the Lakers at 9:30p ET. Preview: https://t.co/Zls4KIN9eH pic.twitter.com/gOVaCRLxcS
6) Indiana has been steamrolling opponents during its four-game winning streak by 23.3 points per game. During this stretch, the Pacers are second in the NBA in scoring (115.5), first in steals (13.0) and second in 3-pointers (13.5).
7) Paul George has been an enormous reason for Indiana’s dominance. In his first full season since breaking his leg on Aug. 1, 2014, George has looked like an early MVP candidate. During his team’s streak, he is averaging 31.8 points per game, while hitting 30 points three times, including 40 once.
8) George and C.J. Miles have been tormenting opponents from deep. Both Pacers are averaging 3.1 3-pointers, which ties for second among all players. The duo combined for 15 triples on Tuesday at Washington, becoming the fifth pair of teammates to each hit seven in a game.
9) Like Hibbert, Jordan Hill will be facing his former team. Hill spent three-plus seasons with the Lakers from 2012-15 and led the team in rebounding last year with a career-high 7.9 per game.
Jordan Hill goes Statue of Liberty in the Photo of the Week, presented by @budlight pic.twitter.com/gEHXWEfqhL
10) Indiana head coach Frank Vogel also has ties to the Lakers. From 2005-06, Vogel was an advance scout for the purple and gold.
