By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pulling away in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged as the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament winners.
Anthony Davis put in season-highs of 41 points and 20 rebounds in the win, 123-109, over the Indiana Pacers in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Four-time NBA champion LeBron James added the NBA Cup to his list and was named In-Season Tournament MVP. Lasting 35 minutes in the championship game, he posted a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double alongside four assists and two steals.
Davis, 30, was dealing with a left adductor and hip spasm injury but was the leading player for the Lakers in T-Mobile Arena. Coming off the bench, Austin Reaves chipped in 28 points over 28 minutes. Gabe Vincent (left knee effusion) remained sidelined.
For the Pacers, missing the finale of the In-season tournament were Andrew Nembhard (right knee bone bruise) and Jalen Smith (left knee bone bruise). Tyrese Haliburton packing a 20-point, 11-assist double-double shared a team-high 20 points with Bennedict Mathurin.
The Lakers led most of the way through the championship game and went into a comfortable distance late in the fourth quarter. The prize money for players on the winning team, coached by Darvin Ham, secured 500,000 dollars each versus 200,000 dollars apiece for the runner-ups.
Confirming intentions for a second In-Season Tournament, the league will meet with representatives of teams and players in Las Vegas. “We will talk with them as well and get any thoughts they have on it,” said commissioner Adam Silver.