Bloodied Hibbert Lifts Pacers over Lakers
Roy Hibbert battled through the discomfort of a possible broken nose to finish with a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds as the Indiana Pacers edged the Los Angeles Lakers 98-96.
The 25-year-old centre was bloodied in the first quarter during a foul on Lakers star Kobe Bryant but remained in the game.
He shot nine-of-13 from the field and scored eight of his points in the final quarter as Indiana snapped the Lakers' nine-game win streak at home.
A half dozen players finished in double figures as the Pacers used a balanced attack to beat the Lakers and win their seventh game in the last nine.
Bryant scored a game-high 33 points for the Lakers who suffered just their second loss at home this season.
With the Pacers leading 95-94 in the fourth, Bryant ran the clock down and Los Angeles had a chance to take a one-point lead with 10 seconds left but Derek Fisher's air ball failed to connect. Guard Darren Collison sank a pair of free throws on the next possession to give Indiana a 97-94 lead with 8.7 seconds left.
Lakers Pau Gasol capped the scoring with a layup as the final buzzer sounded.
Collison finished with 12 points for the Pacers, who recorded two wins and one loss on their three-game road trip. Danny Granger (16), David West (15), Paul George (13) and George Hill (11) also reached double figures.
The Pacers now return to Indianapolis to host Orlando on Tuesday before heading off on another three-game road swing against Chicago, Boston and Orlando.
The Lakers struggled at home for the first time this season since losing to the Chicago Bulls in their season opener. Los Angeles shot just 22 percent from the three-point line and were out-rebounded 50-43 on Sunday.
They have lost three-consecutive games on the road and are off to their worst start on the road since the 2002-03 season.
Source: Agence France Presse
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