LeBron James leads Los Angeles Lakers to dominant victory in NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals
LeBron James shines with a stellar performance, scoring 30 points, dishing out 8 assists, and grabbing 5 rebounds, propelling the Los Angeles Lakers to a commanding 133-89 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in the In-Season Tournament semifinals
LeBron James, the NBA superstar, scored an impressive 30 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a crushing 133-89 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans in the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament (IST) on Thursday. With this win, the Lakers secure a spot in the championship game of the tournament's first edition, where they will face off against the Indiana Pacers for a shot at winning the NBA Cup.
The semifinal games took place in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas - as will the final - with specially designed courts and an atmosphere akin to that of a postseason matchup.
The New Orleans Pelicans In-Season Tournament court at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE/Getty Images
The NBA has debuted unattractive new courts. Viewers are tuning in to watch.
Although the Pelicans showed their competitive energy in the first quarter, narrowly taking the lead into the second, their offense faltered for the rest of the game as they were decisively outplayed by the Purple and Gold.
The Lakers had a 13-point lead at halftime and then dominated the third quarter, outscoring New Orleans 43-17 and securing the win early on. After the game, LeBron James commented, "I think we are beginning to understand what it takes for us to win games and be consistent as a team. Defensively, we are really starting to focus on the need to defend every single night, which gives us the opportunity to win." This statement was made to the NBA.
After the game, Lakers coach Darvin Ham expressed his appreciation for the unique atmosphere of the competition.
"The intensity of this tournament really stands out because it's not just another regular-season game," he explained. "The stakes are much higher, and you can see people's true character come out in those critical moments, especially in the early stages."
The high-scoring offense of the Lakers resulted in six players reaching double figures in scoring. Anthony Davis, the team's big man, recorded 16 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks, while Austin Reaves contributed 17 points, five rebounds and seven assists coming off the bench.
James and Davis celebrate during the game.
Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Later this month, 39-year-old James was unstoppable from beyond the arc, sinking all four of his three-point attempts during the game. His three consecutive three-pointers in the second quarter ignited the Lakers' run, including an impressive long-range shot from the center-court logo. On the other hand, Trey Murphy III was the top scorer for the Pelicans with 14 points, but the entire team struggled with shooting, managing only 35.8% from the field and 22.6% from three-point range. Coach Willie Green expressed disappointment, calling it a "total letdown" and "a step in the wrong direction."
Setting the Pace
The surprise package of the IST continues to turn heads.
On Thursday, the Indiana Pacers secured a 128-119 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, thanks in large part to the outstanding performance of rising star Tyrese Haliburton. With 27 points, seven rebounds, and 15 assists and no turnovers, Haliburton led the team to a championship showdown with the Lakers. Alongside him, center Myles Turner contributed 26 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks.
Milwaukee overcame a significant point difference to overtake the lead in the third quarter and fought the Pacers until the end, but ultimately lost the game when Haliburton made a clutch step-back three-pointer to secure the win with less than a minute remaining.
Haliburton celebrates with Aaron Nesmith (left) and TJ McConnell (center).
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Indiana will take on LA in the title game on Saturday. Unlike the rest of the IST games, the final will not count towards either teams regular season record.
