Los Angeles ClippersOpen full analysis
Indiana PacersOpen full analysis
The Los Angeles Clippers edged the Indiana Pacers 114–113 on March 27 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in a defensive grind that finished below the Vegas total of 235.5. Darius Garland led the Clippers with 30 points while Kawhi Leonard added 28, propelling Los Angeles to a third-quarter surge where they outscored Indiana 36–28. Despite shooting just 42.7 percent from the field, the Clippers compensated with lockdown perimeter defense, recording 12 steals and holding Indiana to 49.4 percent shooting. Aaron Nesmith paced the Pacers with 26 points and Obi Toppin contributed 20, but Indiana's 20 turnovers proved costly against a Clippers team that committed only 11 mistakes. The Pacers made 16 three-pointers to the Clippers' 13, yet Los Angeles's superior assist-to-turnover ratio and second-half execution—particularly in the third quarter—made the difference in a one-point contest. The loss keeps Indiana searching for consistency as the season enters its final stretch.
