Pacers have been killing Lakers on the boards
The Indiana Pacers have a nice run of dominance on the glass over the Los Angeles Lakers, and there's reason to believe it will continue when the Pacers host the Lakers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday night.
The Lakers are tied for 19th in the league with 42.9 rebounds per game, and they are even worse in rebounding percentage -- the percentage of total rebounds a team obtains -- at 47.7 percent (tied for 26th in the league). The Pacers, by comparison, rank 11th in rebounds per game (44.0) and tied for 16th in rebounding percentage (49.6).
Moreover, the Pacers have come up with at least 50 rebounds in eight straight meetings with the Lakers -- the longest streak by one team in any head-to-head series of the last three decades.
MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 50+ REBOUNDS VS. OPPONENT SINCE 1985-86
Team | Opponent | Games | Dates |
Pacers | Lakers | 8 | 1/22/12-11/29/15* |
Lakers | Mavericks | 7 | 11/7/99-2/20/01 |
76ers | Warriors | 7 | 2/29/08-3/6/11 |
Pacers | Nuggets | 6 | 3/7/86-1/23/89 |
Clippers | Warriors | 6 | 3/25/88-2/16/89 |
Celtics | Nuggets | 6 | 12/8/89-12/28/91 |
Blazers | Hornets | 6 | 1/11/92-1/16/94 |
*Active streak |
In Saturday's win over Detroit, George matched his season high from Indiana's first game against the Lakers this season with 14 made free throws. George also his both of his 3-point attempts, marking his seventh game this season with 10-plus free throws and multiple treys.
PACERS' LARGEST IMPROVEMENT IN POINTS PER GAME, ALL-TIME
Season span |
Year 1 | Year 2 | Differential |
2006-07 > 2007-08 | 95.6 | 104.0 | +8.4 |
1998-99 > 1999-2000 | 94.7 |
101.3 |
+6.6 |
1981-82 > 1982-83 |
102.2 | 108.7 | +6.5 |
2014-15 > 2015-16 | 97.3 | 103.0 | +5.7 |
2000-01 > 2001-02 | 92.6 | 96.8 | +4.2 |
Lakers star Kobe Bryant will be making his final regular-season appearance in Indianapolis tonight (and likely the last of his career, given he's retiring after the season and the Lakers are in last place in the Western Conference with an 11-42 record). In 12 trips to Indiana since winning the 2000 NBA Finals, Bryant has averaged 25.0 points per game at Indiana.
MOST GAMES THIS SEASON WITH 10+ FREE THROWS MADE AND 2+ 3-POINTERS MADE
Player | Team | Games |
James Harden | Houston Rockets | 16 |
Paul George | Indiana Pacers | 7 |
DeMarcus Cousins | Sacramento Kings | 5 |
Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | 5 |
Kevin Durant | Oklahoma City Thunder | 5 |
Danilo Gallinari | Denver Nuggets | 5 |
The Lakers are just one of four teams that Pacers point guard George Hill has shot over 50 percent against in his career.
MOST POINTS PER GAME AT PACERS SINCE 2000-01
Player* | Points per game |
LeBron James |
27.4 |
Kobe Bryant | 25.0 |
Dwyane Wade | 24.8 |
Dirk Nowitzki | 24.0 |
Carmelo Anthony | 23.4 |
* Minimum 10 games; active players only |
GEORGE HILL, HIGHEST FIELD-GOAL PERCENTAGE VS. OPPONENT (CAREER)
Opponent | Field-goal percentage |
Phoenix Suns | .592 |
Detroit Pistons | .516 |
Los Angeles Lakers | .510 |
Minnesota Timberwolves | .503 |
Atlanta Hawks | .483 |