The first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament came to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday night, with LeBron James leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a thrilling 131-126 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the championship game. Played on a sparkling gold court in Las Vegas, the event capped off a months-long competition featuring all 30 NBA teams.
Lakers Capture Inaugural Championship Behind LeBron’s 40
LeBron put on a vintage performance in the final, pouring in 40 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 5 assists, as he led L.A. to the $1.5 million prize for the winning team and an additional $250,000 as the In-Season Tournament MVP. The league adopted the new midseason event this year in an effort to generate more fan interest and provide more meaning to regular season games.
The Lakers and Pacers advanced to the championship after winning semifinal matchups on Thursday in Las Vegas. L.A. topped the New Orleans Pelicans 131-126 behind Anthony Davis’ 55 points, while Indiana staged a big comeback to beat Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks 133-127.
“King James” Dons Crown Once Again as Final MVP
Just weeks before his 39th birthday, LeBron showed he still has plenty left in the tank as he carved up the Pacers defense time and time again. Whether slashing to the rim, pulling up off the dribble, or draining step-back triples, the 4-time MVP demonstrated the diverse offensive skillset that has made him one of the most dominant players in league history.
After the game, LeBron said the extra financial incentive provided some extra motivation on the court, but that winning gold with his Laker teammates was the ultimate thrill.
“Getting another trophy is special no matter what tournament it is,” he said. “Add in some nice bonus prize money for the fellas and myself, and it made this three-day event feel pretty rewarding.”
| Final In-Season Tournament Bracket |
|---|
| Semifinals (December 8) |
| (1) Pacers 133, Bucks 127 |
| (2) Lakers 131, Pelicans 126 |
| Championship (December 10) |
| (1) Lakers 131, Pacers 126 |
Pacers’ Haliburton Shines But Team Falls Short
While LeBron took home MVP honors, Indiana point guard Tyrese Haliburton made his case as well with a scintillating 43-point, 9-assist performance. The third-year guard shot 17-26 from the field and 7-11 from three-point range, keeping the Pacers within striking distance until the final minute.
Ultimately Indiana couldn’t get enough stops down the stretch. Anthony Davis added 28 points for L.A. while the Pacers got 19 points from rookie Benedict Mathurin off the bench. LeBron iced the game in the closing seconds with a pull-up dagger triple to put the Lakers up 5.
“I left everything out there tonight,” said Haliburton, “but LeBron wouldn’t let his team lose. Gotta tip your cap to the GOAT sometimes.”
Las Vegas Provides Glitzy Backdrop for Historic Final Four
In a city known for prize fights, the four In-Season Tournament semifinalists treated fans to a heavyweight bout at the sparkling new Dollar Loan Center. Players wore special black and gold trimmed jerseys, as smoke machines and spotlights helped build the energy. The NBA even debuted a shiny new gold-tinted court for the trophy games.
“Only in Vegas could we have pulled this off,” said Commissioner Adam Silver. “The setup at the Dollar Loan Center perfectly captured the spectacle we were going for with this new event.”
Beyond the glitz and glamour though, players on all four teams appreciated having bonuses on the line that could bolster their total season earnings. While stars like LeBron and Giannis have massive guaranteed contracts, the majority of NBA players are signed to smaller two-way deals and would welcome the extra cash prizes.
Strong Early Returns for NBA’s New Creation
The In-Season Tournament began back in November with all 30 teams split into three groups to compete in a group stage. Each team played two games, with group winners plus the best second place squad advancing to the quarterfinals in early December.
Despite some initial skepticism that teams and fans wouldn’t take the games seriously, the NBA has been pleasantly surprised with the positive reception. Attendance and TV ratings for tournament games have been very strong, while the uptempo, competitive basketball has delivered plenty of entertainment.
Adam Silver has been pushing the idea for years as a way to keep regular season interest high. Based on the exciting games seen over the past month, it appears his new project may have some staying power after all. But only time will tell whether these positive returns persist or if interest starts to fade once the novelty wears off.
For 2023 though, the first ever title goes to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Their thrilling championship victory over the Pacers capped off a highly entertaining Inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
