In the final meeting between the two teams, the Los Angeles Lakers needed a game-winning basket by Kobe Bryant to edge the Indiana Pacers Sunday night at the STAPLES Center.

After the Pacers stomped the Lakers in the first meeting, L.A. was looking for a bit of revenge. Kobe came out firing, scoring nine early points to help the Lakers take a seven-point lead. However, that lead would evaporate within minutes once C.J. Miles checked into the game.

Miles poured in 11 points in less than six minutes and helped the Pacers go on a 14-0 run to take a 13-point lead to end the first quarter. The Lakers ended the first on a three minute drought, as they scored only 15 points.

In addition, the Pacers hit six three pointers in the first quarter, and Miles was responsible for half of those makes.

The Pacers held on to their lead to end the first half, 48-41, led by Miles’ 17 points. Nick Young capped the first half with a buzzer beating three-point basket and led the Lakers in scoring with 12, all coming in the second quarter.

To begin the second half, the Lakers were without Wesley Johnson, who left the game with a right hip flexor. He will have an MRI on Monday and will not travel with the team to Portland. Johnson’s night ended with zero points and three rebounds.

In the third quarter, Indiana continued to hold on to their lead. Every time the Lakers came close, the Pacers pushed their lead back up. Offensive rebounding and second chance points were keys to Indiana’s ability to hold the lead. They had 16 offensive rebounds compared to Los Angeles’ five. As a result, the Pacers had 19 second chance points, while the Lakers only had two.

The fourth quarter was a different story. The Lakers bench sparked a mini 5-0 spurt to start the period and cut Indiana’s lead to one. The Lakers were finally able to overcome the lead with two minutes remaining in the game off a Bryant three-point bucket. That was their first lead since midway through the first quarter.

Late in the game with the Lakers down one, they had the ball with 24 seconds left. Bryant drove the lane, spun off his defender, and flipped in a two-point shot in the paint to give his team the lead with 12 seconds remaining. That shot turned out to be the game winner, as the Pacers were unable to convert on the other end.

Bryant finished the game with 20 points, six assists, six rebounds, and three steals in 32 minutes. He continues to play the facilitator role. Nick Young led all scorers with 22 points, including 12 of 12 from the costless throw line.

The Pacers had all five starters in double-figures scoring, but C.J. Miles came off the bench to lead them in scoring with 19. Donald Sloan, who got the start once again for the injured George Hill and C.J. Watson, put in 16 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Roy Hibbert posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams shot under 40 percent from the field, but the Pacers out-rebounded the Lakers, 50-37. Though, the Pacers turned the ball over 16 times and were a minus-15 from the charity stripe.

During the fourth quarter, Carlos Boozer and Roy Hibbert got into a bit of a skirmish. Boozer pushed Hibbert to the ground and was called for a foul, later changed to a flagrant one. Hibbert immediately took offense to Boozer’s push, as he got up and shoved him back and received a technical.

After the game, Boozer had some words for Hibbert. “He (Hibbert) flops a lot,” Boozer said. “Got up acting like he was a tough guy. We all know he’s not a tough guy.”

The Lakers improve their record to 11-23, as they will head to Portland tomorrow, January 5th, to take on the Trail Blazers. Kobe Bryant will not be with the team for that game, as Byron Scott has opted to give him a rest. Bryant has been extremely effective since his three-game rest earlier. He’s led the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists since returning from his three-game absence, averaging 17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.0 assists.

The Pacers fall to 13-22 and will continue their four game road trip in Utah to face the Jazz tomorrow. They will still be without starting point guard George Hill.