The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers on Friday, but Kyle Kuzma won the night.

On an evening when the Lakers learned Anthony Davis will be out at least two more weeks, Kuzma carried the scoring load in L.A.'s 105-100 victory at Staples Center.

Looking ahead to the second half of the season, I presented one key question for each Laker. Admittedly, Kuzma was the trickiest to write about. He's consistently earned plaudits from the team for his “growth” (as LeBron James likes to say), prioritizing hustle plays and little things over scoring. So, I asked: depending on AD's status going forward, can Kuzma revert back to his early-career role as a scorer, if and when called upon?

One game back from the All-Star break, the versatile forward has already answered the question. Kuzma was responsible for 15 points during a 27-9 Lakers fourth-quarter run on Friday, following a generally ugly three periods for his rusty squad. (L.A. was also without Marc Gasol, facing an imposing Pacers frontcourt of Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.)

At the beginning of the fourth, the Lakers tightened the screws on both ends, spurned by Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell (17 points, 8-11 FG, three blocks). Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's steal in the final seconds — thanks to expert communication between him and James — and ensuing free throws iced the game.

But it was Kuzma who changed the momentum with back-to-back threes — both off sweet looks from James.

https://twitter.com/LA_HighLights24/status/1370614281532706821

After the game, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel chalked the first play up to James reading the help off of pick-and-roll action, as the defense focused on Harrell.

Kuzma had a slightly more Wedding Crashersian description of the connection between him and LeBron.

“We were looking at each other the entire possession. I was pretty much eye-fucking him to pass me the ball,” Kyle Kuzma said, surely shocking everybody on the Zoom call. “He found me and I made the shot.”
Overall, Kuzma shot 8-of-18 for the field, including 5-of-6 from three, and one powerful moment of eye contact. On this night, he was more than a wingman.

“I’m just playing my game, really,” Kuzma said about his scoring mind-set, or lack thereof. “Taking what’s giving to me. Not trying to force anything … But when I’m open, I’m shooting it.”

The Lakers especially needed his scoring after Alex Caruso exited the game with a head contusion. Vogel said Caruso was being evaluated for a concussion.

Speaking of injuries, the team provided a few details on Davis (calf strain) before the game. According to the team, he's been “cleared to enter the next phase of his return to play process,” and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Kuzma's scoring is at a career-low rate (11.5 points per game) in his fourth season, but he's never played better basketball.

“There is no doubt that he’s taken another step,” Vogel said last month. “(He’s shown) the mindset of buying into the role with this team, this Anthony and LeBron team, of being a dirty work guy and a guy that can carry the load offensively at times, but really someone that can impact the game in more ways than scoring.”

The fact that his scoring outburst didn't come at the expense of the rest of the game was perhaps the most impressive thing about it. He grabbed 13 rebounds for the second-straight game, his fifth double-digit board night over the past six games.

“Some games are gonna be different … but he's still able to make an impact on the glass … and with his energy and effort,” James said. “We need him to make shots, especially with the absence of AD.”

Kuzma's clutch efforts on the defensive glass and in the post helped the Lakers secure crucial possessions.

“I’m just trying to be a beast defensively and a beast on the boards” he told Spectrum on the court after. “Offensively, will take care of [itself]. … Just got to hit open shots and be in the right place.

On Friday, against one of the best frontcourts in the league, Kyle Kuzma was just that.