Pacers 107, Lakers 103
LOS ANGELES -- Forward Paul George scored 39 points and made some crucial free throws with the game on the line, and the Indiana Pacers held on for a 107-103 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night at Staples Center.
Guard Monte Ellis added 15 points as the Pacers (11-5) won their sixth straight.
Lakers forward Kobe Bryant was the story before the game, announcing hours before tipoff that he will retire at season's end. The revelation on the Players' Tribune website didn't prevent the 37-year-old veteran from putting up another dismal shooting exhibition.
Bryant scored 13 points on 4-for-20 shooting. He was 2-for-9 from behind the 3-point stripe.
Guards Nick Young and Jordan Clarkson scored 22 points each to pace the Lakers (2-14), who lost their six consecutive contest.
Los Angeles made a late run, cutting the deficit to four on a bucket inside by forward Julius Randle with 3:41 left. However, two free throws by George pushed the Pacers' lead to 100-92 with 1:07 remaining. A 3-pointer by Young and another one by forward Metta World Peace sliced the deficit to 100-98 with 23.6 seconds left.
George hit two more foul shots with 22.1 seconds remaining, pushing the lead to four. After Clarkson scored on a basket in the lane, George made two free throws with 14.4 seconds left to make it 104-100.
Bryant, though, nailed a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining to pull Los Angeles with one, but George converted another pair of free throws with 10.5 seconds remaining for a three-point advantage. Bryant followed by airballing a 3-pointer with seven seconds left.
George canned one of two free throws to seal the win with 5.1 seconds remaining.
The Pacers burst out to a 28-12 cushion after one quarter and 48-35 at the break.
Lakers center Roy Hibbert faced his former club for the first time since being traded by the Pacers. He finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
NOTES: Lakers coach Byron Scott said he was saddened when G/F Kobe Bryant informed him Saturday night he would retire at season's end. "It's always hard when greatness like Kobe decides to hang it up," said Scott during his pregame media session. Scott refused to divulge many of the details of the conversation between the two but said he was surprised Bryant was retiring. "He just told me at an awkward time," Scott said without elaborating. "It just caught me off-guard." ... The Lakers will visit the 0-18 Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. A loss by the 76ers would match the worst start in NBA history. ... The Pacers will spend a few extra days in Los Angeles before playing the Clippers on Wednesday.