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Lakers at Pacers: 10 Things to Know (12/15/14)

Here is what you need to know before the Lakers take on the Indiana Pacers.

1)
Since making his off-the-bench debut four games ago, Carlos Boozer has been on a tear, averaging 15.8 points and 10.3 rebounds while shooting 56.9 percent. In Boozer’s 19 games as a starter, he was scoring 12.4 points on a 49.8 percent clip with 6.6 rebounds. Even Boozer’s minutes have gone up as a reserve from 26.3 per game to 27.3.

2)
The Lakers are in the midst of a three-game winning streak, their first since Nov. 17-24, 2013. Defense has been key during this stretch, as L.A. is allowing 99.7 points on 44.8 percent shooting — a stark contrast from the 110.9 points and 48.2 field goal percentage it allowed during the 21 games prior.

3)
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Indiana has lost eight consecutive games. The streak is the Pacers’ worst in five seasons under head coach Frank Vogel, and a loss to the Lakers would be the first time dropping nine in a row since the 2006-07 season. During the current slide, Indiana has been outscored by 11.4 points per game and outrebounded by 3.4 boards, despite having a 6.4-rebound advantage across the team’s previous 16 games.

4)
The Lakers lost both games to Indiana last year for the first time since the 1991-92 series. The two teams have matched up closely recently, as they have split the past 10 games, and five of the last nine have been settled by three points or fewer.

5)
The Pacers have been riddled with injuries, most crucially to two-time all-star Paul George, who fractured his right tibia and fibula in an exhibition for USA Basketball in August. George Hill (left knee contusion) and Ian Mahinmi (torn left plantar fascia) are also out. Hill started at point guard for the majority of last season, while Mahinmi was shooting a team-best 61.1 percent from the field this year. Last season, the Pacers missed only 69 combined games and used three starting lineups. Already this year, Indiana has missed 101 games and used eight starting combinations.

6)
With so many injuries, Indiana’s bench has been frequently called upon to keep the Pacers afloat. After averaging the third-fewest points last season (25.0), Indiana’s reserves are now scoring the fourth-most (39.6) and lead all bench units in rebounds (19.4).

7)
Seven-foot-two Roy Hibbert continues to be a solid anchor for Indiana’s defense. His 2.2 blocks per game are tied with Tim Duncan and Andrew Bogut for the third-highest average in the league, and he also ranks fifth in block percentage* at 6.2. Defensively, Hibbert has been one of the league’s best rim protectors, as he is allowing opponents to shoot the third-lowest percentage at the hoop (40.5) behind only Bogut and Dwight Howard.

8)
Unlike the past 25 years, the Pacers have been unable to defend their home court with consistency. The Pacers have enjoyed a winning home record in each season over the last quarter-century. However, this year might be the end of that NBA-best streak, as they are just 4-8 in Indianapolis, losing by an average score of 96-91.

9)
Indiana’s offense has been dreadful thus far, scoring just 93.2 points per game, the second-fewest next to Philadelphia (91.4). The Pacers are also averaging the second-fewest points per shot (1.11) and the third-lowest field goal percentage (42.2).

10)
However, the Pacers have been getting by with what they do best: dominating down low. Indiana’s 46.4 rebounds per game are tied with Oklahoma City and Golden State for the second-highest total in the league, which has led to an NBA-best 16.2 second-chance points. Defensively, the Pacers are just as impressive, allowing opponents to average the league’s fewest second-chance points (10.8) and baskets at the rim (9.9).

*Block percentage is an estimation of the number of opponent 2-pointers that are blocked by a player while he is on the floor.