Hello, Lakers Nation. Welcome into the Lakers Nation.com podcast, kind of a bonus Sunday edition of the show because it's game day. Lakers, Pacers tonight. I want to call it a big game, but let's face it.

Right now, every game is a big game for the Lakers as they try to do two things, try to stay ahead of the Golden State Warriors in the playoff push and not fall to the 10 seed. And they also try to catch up to somebody, whether it be the Kings or more likely, in my opinion, the Phoenix Suns and jump up to the eighth seed. It looks like right now that may be a bit of a long shot. We need both those teams to start losing some games. But bottom line,

every game right now for the Lakers, it's a big game. It's an important game. And that includes tonight's matchup with the Pacers, which I think should be a fun one in terms of we talk about

styles, make fights and all that sort of stuff. This has the potential to be a really fun,

really exciting game. But I want to get in exactly what the Lakers need to do in order to win it. I also need to talk a little bit about Spencer Dinwiddie. We'll get into the mailbag. A lot of stuff to talk about on today's show. Don't forget to subscribe to the YouTube channel, YouTube.com slash Lakers Nation. In fact, you're there right now, you're on the channel watching this video,

hit that subscribe button for me and then also hit that thumbs up, that like button.

All right, let's talk about this.

Lakers, Pacers tonight.

So the Pacers already did the Lakers a favor a couple of nights ago when they beat the Golden State Warriors.

Thank you, Pawnee.

Very well done.

The Lakers now have a little bit of separation between themselves and the Warriors. Thank you, Pawnee. Very well done. The Lakers now have a little bit of

separation between themselves and the Warriors. Not a lot. It's still a pretty tight race, though,

and so the Lakers need to keep stacking up these wins. In fact, there's an opportunity here

to create a little bit more breathing room tonight as the Warriors will be in action. They're going

to be taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

So if the Lakers can get a win, the Warriors lose again, well, that would certainly be

helpful for the Lakers and their efforts to stay at the very least in that nine seat.

Remember, that's home court in that 9-10 matchup is what's at stake.

The Houston Rockets last night won their eighth game in a row.

Suddenly they are a threat.

They are right there.

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