East meets West in LA

11.30.2003

Los Angeles, CA (Basketball News) - Two of the NBA’s elite teams meet tonight when Jermaine O’Neal and the Indiana Pacers start a five-game West Coast road trip in Los Angeles against the exciting Lakers.

The Pacers come into tonight’s contest on an eight-game winning streak.

O’Neal scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Indiana over Philadelphia, 90-77, Friday at Conseco Fieldhouse in an Eastern Conference battle.

Ron Artest added 20 points, seven boards and eight assists for the Pacers, who won their eighth straight game. Al Harrington contributed 17 points, 12 rebounds and seven helpers off the bench, as Indiana has won 13 of its last 14 games and holds the best record in the Eastern Conference at 14-2.

The Pacers, who are a perfect 7-0 away from home this season, face an extremely tough road swing. After playing the Lakers, Indiana will visit, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle and Sacramento.

Indiana guard Jamaal Tinsley is questionable for tonight’s contest with a sore back.

The Lakers enter tonight’s game having won five in a row.

Karl Malone recorded his fourth career triple-double with 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, as the Lakers pounded the San Antonio Spurs, 103-87, Friday at the Staples Center.

Devean George led all scorers with a season-high 19 points and Gary Payton and Kobe Bryant each added 17 for the Lakers, who won their fifth straight and were victorious for the eighth time in their last nine games.

The Lakers have won all nine of their home games this season and tied a Los Angeles-era record with their 24th straight home win. LA hasn’t lost a regular season home game since February 16 to the New York Knicks, and tied the record set between the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons.

LA center Shaquille O’Neal returned to the lineup for the Lakers against the Spurs after missing the last two games because of a strained right calf. However, he played just 25 minutes and recorded seven points against San Antonio.

In 2002-03 the Lakers won two close contests with the Pacers. LA took home a 97-94 decision on February 4, 2003 at Indiana and then defeated the Pacers, 97-95, on March 5 at Los Angeles.

Overall, the Lakers have won four straight and six of the last seven meetings with the Pacers.

Indiana has lost four in a row and 10 of its last 11 as the visitor against the Lakers.

IND LAL

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