On Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers left Las Vegas with the all-new NBA Cup, along with $500,000 in prize money for each player, as champions of the first-ever NBA in-season tournament. Prize money was also included for making the finals ($200,000), semifinals ($100,000) and quarterfinals ($50,000).
The Lakers held on to defeat the Indiana Pacers 123-109 behind a dominant Anthony Davis performance. Davis had 41 points, 20 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks. Austin Reaves added 28 points, while LeBron James had 24 points and 11 rebounds.
The No. 1-seeded Lakers made it to the finals after defeating the No. 3-seeded New Orleans Pelicans and No.4-seeded Phoenix Suns. The No. 2-seeded Pacers defeated the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and No. 3-seeded Boston Celtics to advance to the championship game.
Here are some of the best moments from the in-season tournament:
Los Angeles Lakers 123, Indiana Pacers 109
Haliburton. Splash.
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/7Jd5dzgHI8
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
AD hits the TOUGH and-one fade 💪
The railcam angle 🔥
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/0yJzYholoq
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
Austin Reaves shows off some balance for the tough bucket 😤
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/8Z7hJBpFPv
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
Austin Reaves has 20 PTS in the first half 🗣️
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/M6Ipsvle8n
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
LEBRON ➡️ AD
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/C70bSPQnpQ
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
Mathurin cashes the floating triple at the Q3 buzzer to cut the lead to 8 👀
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/14RgjHlExQ
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
WHAT A SEQUENCE TO CUT THE LEAD TO 3 🤯
10-2 PACERS RUN TO START Q4.
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/Na5aMlJGv3
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
LEBRON TO THE RACK 🔨
LAKERS ON A 15-5 RUN.
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/GcJzyp7mik
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
AD BLOCK. REDDISH JAM.
LAKERS LEAD IN VEGAS.
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/ZiTH0okE69
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
AD THROWS IT DOWN 🔨
HE’S GOT 33 PTS AND 18 REB.
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/VjlWB1x5Zi
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
AD IS DOMINATING IN VEGAS 😱
39 PTS 20 REB 5 AST 4 BLK
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/WhgLohDqzs
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
Top fashion arrivals from the championship game
LeBron arrives in style for the In-Season Tournament Championship 🏆 #NBACupRedCarpet
🏀 Lakers-Pacers
⏰ 8:30pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/Yp9ywqYBi6— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2023
😎 pic.twitter.com/PZdeOb8Opu
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 9, 2023
pic.twitter.com/yqCJOiDlNv
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 10, 2023
Tyrese Haliburton pulls up to the #NBACupRedCarpet for the In-Season Tournament Championship 🕶️
🏆 Lakers-Pacers
⏰ 8:30pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/2SfRvVBbGw— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2023
Rui and DLo on the #NBACupRedCarpet 👀
🏆 Lakers-Pacers | In-Season Tournament Championship
⏰ 8:30pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/C7SP0cVKk3— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2023
Los Angeles Lakers 133, New Orleans Pelicans 89
The last LBJ 3 was an absolute HEAT CHECK 🤯 https://t.co/GyfLnhsDpv pic.twitter.com/SqZPT5cdsd
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Bron lobs it up for AD, Lakers are rolling 💪
🏀 Pelicans/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/cNmiD2YkSv— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Walk-in 3 ✅
Hit the celly ✅ https://t.co/RHABlaeCnn pic.twitter.com/lKjYuRveZ7— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Indiana Pacers 128, Milwaukee Bucks 119
Buddy’s pregame trick shot ✅
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/3bsVkCRw9A— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
Hali somehow finds Obi with the wraparound DIME 🔥
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/lMwVgC0wHl— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
MYLES TURNER UNLOADS WITH TWO HANDS 😳
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/9ZFVCMP1qr— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
OBI TOPPIN REVERSE LOB FROM HALF 😱
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/5gNgv3WIMa— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
IT’S HALI’S TIME https://t.co/jxMaRG5CTu pic.twitter.com/cQVnjv5SQZ
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Los Angeles Lakers 106, Phoenix Suns 103
THE VISION 👑 https://t.co/Xho2k5WeGl pic.twitter.com/ZfmAvj5yTw
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
KD showing off his fluidity with the rock 💪 https://t.co/7dLIKHAWoB pic.twitter.com/n3kbrlX1ul
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
LBJ powers his way to the and-1 BUCKET 💪
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/oRI0BDhRoQ— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
KD THROWS DOWN THE HAMMER 🔨
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/wBD7jjZ43t— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Austin Reaves is having himself a QUARTER ‼️
13 PTS in the 3Q 🔥
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/PqUtvlMomP— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
LEBRON TAKEOVER 👑
LBJ scores back-to-back buckets to put the Lakers ahead 102-97!
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/msYpS23HWM— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
AUSTIN REAVES. CLUTCH. 😤
Lakers lead 105-101 with 15 seconds left in the 4Q!
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/Lp9qwAVzi1— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Milwaukee Bucks 146, New York Knicks 122
Isaiah Hartenstein follows the miss with a SLAM 😤
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/vLjXpm5vsw— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Randle finishes through CONTACT 💪
Julius has a season-high 36 PTS!
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/F0yV2bl5S5— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Giannis makes it look easy with the SPIN CYCLE layup!
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/DyrzBlzP8s— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Lillard from beyond the arc!
Dame scored the last 13 PTS for Milwaukee going into halftime 🔥
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/y1XIQPf54z— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
FLIGHT 34 IS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ✈️
Giannis throws it down off the inbound lob 😤
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/7yDCKiCMWk— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
New Orleans Pelicans 127, Sacramento Kings 117
“For a trip to Veeeegas!” 🗣️
The In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals are here. CJ McCollum is feeling the vibe.
🏆 Kings-Pelicans
📺 10pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/rutB5nD0F3— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
HERBERT!!! pic.twitter.com/wyDSQ8Kb4P
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 5, 2023
“Be great! Be great!”
Jose Alvarado is mic’d up for the In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals 🗣️
🏀 Pelicans/Kings on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/2dbrEicbxW— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
JOSE ALVARADO WITH THE SIGNATURE STEAL IN SACRAMENTO 🤯
🏀 Pelicans/Kings on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/RAeO4IJsLA— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Malik Monk for 3⃣!
Sacramento has cut the lead to 5 👀
🏀 Pelicans/Kings on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/KXlFLywEAf— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
COAST TO COAST HERB! pic.twitter.com/594wyDYKwm
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 5, 2023
Indiana Pacers 122, Boston Celtics 112
JB throws it DOWN 🔨
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/gtng3bSFOg— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Tyrese Haliburton crosses over into the DEEP 3⃣
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/MXYj3XH34k— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
WHAT A SHOT.
HALI’S DAD LOVES IT 🗣️ https://t.co/ofchieEY1K pic.twitter.com/J3EsCp1kOy
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
AARON NESMITH THROWS IT DOWN.
ELECTRIC IN INDIANA 😱
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/2OokAUpLG6— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Pacers brought the ENERGY tonight 💯
Peep all the best bench reactions from their In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals W 📹 pic.twitter.com/hWBrkXi9jg
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
