The victory against the Utah Jazz seemed like it could be a turning point in the Los Angeles Lakers season, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Indiana Pacers took a merit victory from the Crypto.com Arena (111-104). The visitors were more resolute in the final minutes in which the Lakers, despite entering the fourth quarter ahead, again squandered an advantage.
Despite not having Myles Turner, the Pacers owned the paint, especially in the decisive moments of the game. Domantas Sabonis got her fourth triple-double this season: 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. But the player of the night was Caris LeVert, who became unstoppable down the stretch. Rumors about a possible departure from the team did not affect him and he closed the game with 22 points in the fourth quarter, 30 in total, to guide his team to victory.
The opposite case lived Frank Vogel. In the first game since it was leaked that his position was in danger, the Lakers once again showed their worst version. The Los Angeles team repeated mistakes from the past and allowed themselves to overcome what was a 14-point lead midway through the second quarter. This unexpected defeat puts the Lakers with their record below 50% wins, 22-23.
It is the first time that the Pacers have won at the Lakers’ home since 2015, when Vogel was still in charge of the Indiana. The Pacers, in the middle of the reconstruction phase, remain with a record of 16-29, in the last places in the Eastern Conference. They still continue to see from afar the access points to play in.
In defense of Vogel
After the game, LeBron James addressed the media and did not hesitate to defend his coach. “The coaching staff has been great, they put us in a position to win. We have to play better, “said James. The Lakers star noted that his team wasn’t too bad overall, but LeVert’s performance in the fourth quarter made the difference.
James has not been the only one who has come out to defend the coach. The one that was player of the Lakers in the season of the last title, Danny Green, also showed his support to Vogel.“It’s one of the reasons I don’t want to be a coach. Vogel has been given – I don’t want to say a bad team – but it’s a difficult situation to understand, especially with the injuries and COVID. He hasn’t had some of his best players and they point him out for things that I don’t think are his fault.», he stated in his podcast The Green Room.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
