Los Angeles Lakers at Indiana Pacers 12/17/19: Starting Lineups, Matchup Preview, Daily Fantasy
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Los Angeles Lakers at Indiana Pacers Preview
With the Milwaukee Bucks losing to the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers now own the league’s longest current win streak and will put that on the line as they are on the road in the Hoosier state tonight as they matchup against the Indiana Pacers for an interconference matchup.
This will be the first game of the regular season series between the Lakers and Pacers. Los Angeles has the top record in the league with a 24-3 record. They are 9-1 in their last 10 games, are an excellent 14-1 record on the road and have won their last seven straight.
Indiana is in sixth place in the Eastern Conference with an 18-9 record. They have won their last three games entering tonight’s matchup, they are 7-3 in their last 10 games and are 11-3 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
TV Schedule
Date: 12/17/19
Time: 7 PM ET
Arena: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Channel: NBA TV
Injuries
Lakers: Rajon Rondo (P), Anthony Davis (Q), Kyle Kuzma, DeMarcus Cousins (O)
Pacers: JaKarr Sampson (Q), Victor Oladipo (O)
Los Angeles Lakers Starting Lineup
PG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SG: Danny Green
SF: LeBron James
PF: Anthony Davis
C: JaVale McGee
Lakers Analysis
The Los Angeles Lakers have won their last seven games entering tonight’s matchup with the Pacers. They have yet to lose a game on their Eastern Conference road trip, but they came close in a 101-96 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.
With the Lakers now having the NBA’s top record, it’s no surprise to them that they have a target painted squarely on their backs.
“You’ve got to credit the other team sometimes,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “Teams are coming after us. We always get the other team’s best shot.”
The Lakers got out to a slow start on Sunday, but a 31-point second quarter gave them the lead going into halftime. Four of the Lakers’ five starters scored in double figures. LeBron James finished the game with 32 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Anthony Davis had 27 points and matched James’ 13 boards. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green had 11 and 10 points apiece.
The Lakers had some issues with turnovers and they’ll have to clean that up against a better Pacers team tonight.
Lakers Quick Links: Lakers Starting Lineup, Lakers Roster, Lakers Depth Chart, Lakers Injuries, Lakers News, Lakers Schedule
Indiana Pacers Starting Lineup
PG: Malcolm Brogdon
SG: Jeremy Lamb
SF: T.J. Warren
PF: Domantas Sabonis
C: Myles Turner
Pacers Analysis
While the Pacers have not quit strung together the number of wins the Lakers have, they are playing well, only losing one of their last five, which was a one-point loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
“We’re playing good basketball right now,” Indiana forward Domantas Sabonis said recently. “We’re moving the ball, have a lot of players in double figures and every night it’s someone else. That’s the beauty of it.”
In a blowout 107-85 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday, the Pacers, like an Indy 500 car, stepped on the gas early and built an early lead. They outscored the Hornets 33-20 in the first stanza and then closed out with a 35-19 fourth quarter.
To Sabonis’ point, the Hornets were led by Aaron Holiday, who came off the bench for 23 points. Myles Turner had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Sabonis finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Pacers Quick Links: Pacers Starting Lineup, Pacers Roster, Pacers Depth Chart, Pacers Injuries, Pacers News, Pacers Schedule
Key Player Matchups
LeBron James vs. TJ Warren
Tonight, James faces another player who seems to be tailor-made for this matchup. Warren has made his name off of his defense, but James has faced stiff challenges all season. However, Warren isn’t just a defensive player. He’s playing very well in his first year with the Pacers, averaging 17.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Anthony Davis vs. Domantas Sabonis
Anthony Davis has had an MVP-caliber year, but there has been slippage lately. He’s averaging over 27 points and nine rebounds per game. But don’t expect Sabonis to just bow down to Davis tonight. He’s gone under-the-radar and is very quietly having a career year with the Pacers, averaging 17.7 points and 13.5 rebounds per game
Daily Fantasy
Anthony Davis and Domantas Sabonis are fantasy standouts in tonight’s matchup. Davis is available for $10.5k and is projected for 48.4 points. Sabonis has a salary of $8k and is projected to finish with 35.7 points.
If you’re looking for a nice value pickup for tonight’s lineup, TJ Warren is a name you cannot miss. He has an inexplicably low salary of $5k and is projected for 29.9 points, giving him a points per $1k ratio of 5.98 points.
Bet on Matchup
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