MINNEAPOLIS, MN.-
The Los Angeles Lakers, with a LeBron James who continues to expand his legend and an absolutely unstoppable Anthony Davis, conquered the first NBA In-Season Tournament this Saturday by beating the rebellious and surprising Indiana in the final in Las Vegas (USA). Pacers 123-109.
The Lakers are, along with the Boston Celtics, the franchise with the most rings in history (17), but now the Californians will be able to boast that they also have the first NBA Cup in their showcases after the premiere of this tournament with which the NBA has experimented with the cup format.
This title also came with a succulent extra prize for the Lakers players, since each one will pocket half a million dollars for winning the final.
The victory further adorns LeBron’s impressive career, which continues to add milestones to a golden and brilliant career. The top scorer in NBA history, already in his 21st season and three weeks after turning 39, he had 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.
But ‘King James’ owes a very important part of this victory in the final to Davis, a titan in attack and defense and who vindicated himself in capital letters in a memorable performance of 41 points (16 of 24 shooting), 20 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks.
In addition, Austin Reaves, who arrived sick at the game, shone with 28 points in the second unit in the umpteenth example of the champion DNA, ambition and competitive spirit throughout the history of the Lakers, who finished the tournament with a full of seven wins in seven games.
For their part, these young and captivating Pacers could not complete their feat after dazzling in this cup with ultra-offensive basketball, at full speed and with an exhausting pace.
Tyrese Haliburton, the great sensation of this tournament despite the defeat, could not impose his law and finished with 20 points and 11 assists. The Pacers suffered atrociously in the paint (86 points from the Lakers in the zone) and did not end their drought since they have not yet won an NBA title.
The duel was very intense and suffocating, with a rhythm interrupted by numerous fouls and with an astonishing mistake from the triple (2 of 13 for the Lakers, 10 of 41 for the Pacers).
Immense Davis
With a large presence of Lakers fans in the stands, all eyes were on LeBron and Haliburton but the master of the first quarter was an overwhelming Davis.
The center from Los Angeles, who suffers from intermittency but who when he wants to is one of the most ruthless interiors in the league, became a giant in the zone, crushed everyone who came in front of him and finished the initial period with 13 points and 8 rebounds .
Haliburton was choked by the Lakers’ defense, which was very aggressive and insistent from the start. The point guard had not lost a ball in the previous two games but in the first quarter alone he lost two, both stolen by LeBron.
While the Lakers put their boots in the paint (26 points and 20 rebounds among the entire team) and were not afraid to play at the devilish speed that Indiana proposes, the Pacers found some relief on the perimeter to not fall behind after a first quarter of promising sensations for the Californians (34-29).
Reaves, already one of the pillars of the Lakers, came in very inspired and going strong as a reserve.
But it was LeBron who then asked to speak, showing muscle in the paint and showing that, now in his forties, he has even more power, drive and character than many twenty-somethings.
At 3.27 before the break (52-49), LeBron added his third foul and a chill ran through those in purple and gold, since they are usually a fiercely competitive team with ‘King James’ on the court and also a team full of doubts without Their leader.
But an electric and voracious Reaves came to the rescue, reaching halftime with 22 points after dazzling with 15 points in the second quarter alone.
With LeBron, Davis and Reaves at full capacity and undeniable control of the paint (52 points at halftime), it seemed that the Lakers had all the ingredients to open a gap and leave the Pacers very touched but they went to the locker room with a tight 65 -60.
The reasons? An astonishing and impressive 21 of 22 in free throws for Indiana, who far from the most explosive version of him clung to the personnel line like a lifeline; and 0 of 6 for the Lakers from three-point range.
“Only five points! “We’re fine, we’re fine…” Haliburton said to his teammates on the way to intermission.
But upon their return, the Pacers had not covered their gigantic hole in their interior defense, a wound that LeBron continued to rub salt into until the Lakers got their first +10 of the evening.
The fourth foul of a Myles Turner totally surpassed by Davis seemed like the ideal moment for LeBron’s team to go one step further and shoot up the scoreboard.
However, the game continued at a very heavy pace, with numerous fouls and a desperate mistake from the three-point range (the Lakers did not make their first three-point shot until the end of the third quarter).
Davis also seemed to have physical discomfort, but he still had enough strength to complete a great “alley-oop” served by LeBron.
Haliburton offered some sparks but no teammate took a step forward. In any case, a fabulous triple at the buzzer by Bennedict Mathurin left them still with a lot of life for the last quarter (90-82).
A triple by Obi Toppin and a steal by TJ McConnell, a tremendously unruly agitator for the Pacers bench, allowed Rick Carlisle’s team to get within just three points and with the intention of taking off (92-89 with 10:30 left) .
But in each attack by the Pacers, the Lakers relied on a huge Davis, who with a great dunk returned the +10 for the Lakers and who let out a shout that was heard throughout the Nevada desert to confirm that the Los Angeles franchise Ángeles was going to lift her first title since the ‘bubble’ ring in 2020.
2023-12-11 14:18:32
#LAKERS #WIN #NBA #CUP #LEBRON #ENLARGES #LEGEND #Minnesota #Hoy
