Scoreboard
Lakers 123, Pacers 109
What went down
The Los Angeles Lakers have been crowned champions of the inaugural In-Season Tournament following a 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Anthony Davis had a game to remember with a stat line of 41 points and 20 rebounds, alongside five assists and four blocks to help the Lakers lift the first-ever NBA Cup. LeBron James starred alongside AD with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists.
FIRST-EVER IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS 🏆
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
The Los Angeles Lakers lift the #NBACup 🙌 pic.twitter.com/8tlF9EKqwu
The Lakers were in control for most of the contest but a late surge by the Pacers made the game interesting. It was a four-point game until the eventual champions unleashed a back-breaking 15-3 run to seal the win.
Austin Reeves was also crucial in the win, scoring 28 points as he did most of his damage in the first half while D’Angelo Russell chipped in with 13 points.
The young Pacers proved they belong in the bright lights of Las Vegas as they put up a gallant stand before ultimately falling short. Tyrese Haliburton, one of the stars of the entire tournament, finished with 20 points and 11 assists.
Aside from the chip, the Lakers also got bonus checks to take home. Players on standard contracts will receive $500,000 while the Pacers won’t go empty-handed with each player earning $200,000. Two-way players will receive half of those amounts.
Big-time ballers
LeBron James took home MVP honors after a brilliant run in the tournament. The four-time MVP, four-time Finals MVP, and three-time All-Star MVP can add another line to his already stacked resume.
The first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament MVP 🏆
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
Peep LeBron's best plays from the tournament 📹 pic.twitter.com/F1ZIlmbcfd
And if there were an In-Season Tournament Finals MVP, it would have belonged to Anthony Davis and his 40-20 performance.
What he said
There will be many more In-Season Tournaments in the future but there’s nothing like being the first to win it.
"We made history."
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
- Champion and MVP of the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament, LeBron James 🏆 pic.twitter.com/JmCJzUZLvg
Did you see that?
LeBron knows all about popping champagne after a championship and took it upon himself to teach his younger teammates the art of celebrating in the locker room.
"I don't know if these young boys know about this" 😂
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
In-Season Tournament MVP LeBron popping champagne in the locker room. pic.twitter.com/fHMLC06o5q
Extra Pass
NBA action returns on Tuesday with a massive 13-game slate. There will be plenty of games to choose from but the matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans might pique your interest.
The Timberwolves are one of the hottest teams in the league, winning their last six games. Overall, they have been nearly unshakeable in the West with a 17-4 record. Anthony Edwards is making a leap right before our eyes as he leads the squad with 24.4 points per game. There’s a different level of swagger and confidence to his game this season and it’s not just because he has a new signature shoe.
More importantly for Minnesota, is the Rudy Gobert trade finally making sense? The three-time DPOY is playing otherworldly again on the defensive end and he’s one of the reasons why teams have had trouble scoring against the Timberwolves. The issues on pace and space seem distant now that he’s playing like an All-Star alongside franchise big man Karl-Anthony Towns.
At the other end of the spectrum are the New Orleans Pelicans fresh from a pummeling against the Lakers in the semifinals of the IST. Just when critics and pundits were considering them a dark horse in the West, they were rudely sent back to earth. Instead of their improved play, all the attention has turned to Zion Williamson and his fitness. Everyone wants to see the dominant version of Zion that terrorized opponents with his unique combination of size and speed. It’s up to him now to turn the criticisms into motivation.
The tipoff between the Timberwolves and the Pelicans is at 9:00 AM on NBA TV Philippines.
