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Pacers vs. Lakers: Star Injuries Sideline James & Haliburton
7 Mar
Summary
- LeBron James out with elbow contusion, Tyrese Haliburton sidelined for season.
- Lakers vie for playoff position; Pacers near Eastern Conference bottom.
- Doncic expected to lead Lakers offense with James unavailable.
On March 6, 2026, the Indiana Pacers are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers are actively contending for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, whereas the Pacers are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Both teams are grappling with considerable injury situations, impacting their regular rotations and potentially elevating the roles of bench players.
Key absences for the Pacers include Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the season with a torn right Achilles tendon, and Johnny Furphy, sidelined with a torn ACL. Center Ivica Zubac will also miss the game due to an ankle sprain. Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith are listed as probable, managing various sprains and soreness. The Lakers will be without LeBron James, nursing an elbow contusion. Maxi Kleber and Deandre Ayton's availability is also being monitored due to back and knee issues, respectively.
With LeBron James out, Luka Doncic is expected to be the primary playmaker for the Lakers. For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam is poised to carry a significant scoring load. Historically, the Lakers hold a 67-35 lead over the Pacers in regular-season matchups. Recent games have shown scoring potential, with a high-scoring overtime game in March 2024 and a decisive Pacers victory later that month. The Lakers enter this contest as favorites, with projections indicating a 122-109 score.
