The NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament is down to two teams: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers. Both teams won their semifinal games on Thursday night and will face each other for the NBA Cup on Saturday, Dec. 9 in Las Vegas.
The Lakers, who were the top seed in the West, defeated the Phoenix Suns 115-109 in a thrilling game that came down to the wire. LeBron James led the way with 34 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Anthony Davis added 28 points and 12 rebounds. The Lakers overcame a 32-point performance from Devin Booker, who hit a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game at 109 with 1:12 left. However, James responded with a 3-pointer of his own and then sealed the win with a steal and a dunk in the final seconds.
The Pacers, who were the second seed in the East, pulled off a stunning upset over the Milwaukee Bucks 128-119 in a high-scoring affair. Tyrese Haliburton was the star of the night, recording his first career triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists. He also hit several clutch shots in the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer with less than a minute left that gave the Pacers a 10-point lead. The Pacers also got 25 points from Domantas Sabonis and 23 points from Caris LeVert, while the Bucks were led by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 36 points and 14 rebounds.
The Lakers and the Pacers will now play for the NBA Cup, a new trophy that will be awarded to the winner of the In-Season Tournament. The tournament, which began on Nov. 3, featured 30 teams divided into 10 groups of three. The teams played two games against each other in their group, and the top team from each group advanced to the knockout rounds, along with two wild cards from each conference. The knockout rounds consisted of three single-elimination games: quarterfinals, semifinals and championship. The games in the quarterfinals and semifinals counted as regular season games, while the championship game did not.
The In-Season Tournament was introduced by the NBA as a way to create more excitement and competition during the regular season, as well as to reward teams and players for their performance. The tournament also had a prize pool of $75 million, which was distributed among the teams and players based on their results. The champion team will receive $30 million, while the runner-up will receive $10 million.
The players on the champion team will each receive $1 million, while the players on the runner-up team will each receive $500,000. The players on the semifinalist teams will each receive $200,000, while the players on the quarterfinalist teams will each receive $100,000. The players on the teams that did not advance from the group stage will each receive $50,000.
The championship game between the Lakers and the Pacers will be played on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 8:30 p.m. ET at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The game will be broadcasted on ABC and will feature a special halftime show by Drake. The game will also have a unique format, as it will be played in four 10-minute quarters instead of the usual 12-minute quarters.
The game will also have a 24-second shot clock and a 14-second reset after offensive rebounds, as well as a modified free throw rule that will allow players to shoot only one free throw for any number of points depending on the foul. The game will also have a target score in the fourth quarter, similar to the All-Star Game, where the first team to reach the target score will win the game. The target score will be determined by adding 24 points to the leading team’s score at the end of the third quarter.
SQUAD UP. pic.twitter.com/uZqs6XQSWM
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 24, 2023
The Lakers and the Pacers have met twice in the regular season, with each team winning once. The Lakers won 112-105 on Nov. 29 in Los Angeles, while the Pacers won 111-104 on Dec. 2 in Indianapolis. The Lakers are seeking their 18th NBA championship, while the Pacers are looking for their first.
The Lakers have a star-studded roster led by James and Davis, while the Pacers have a balanced and resilient team led by Haliburton and Sabonis. The Lakers have the experience and the talent, while the Pacers have the momentum and the hunger. The stage is set for a historic and exciting finale to the NBA’s first-ever In-Season Tournament.
