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Lakers win inaugural NBA in-season tournament over Pacers

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with the MVP Trophy after defeating the Indiana Pacers in the in-season tournament championship at T-Mobile Arena. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Lakers win inaugural NBA in-season tournament, drawing surprising reaction from basketball world

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 12/10/23

First, the Los Angeles Lakers won an NBA title in the bubble, and now they've earned another honor on a neutral site, winning the NBA Cup in the league's inaugural in-season tournament.

The Lakers held off the Indiana Pacers, 123-109, capping off a tournament that earned rave reviews after initially garnering skepticism.

The In-Season Tournament could use a few tweaks, but this has been great for the NBA. Really fun game tonight. November/December basketball with stakes and guys going all out. Major win for the league.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) December 10, 2023

Thought the inaugural In-Season Tournament was a great success.

Got the buy-in from players and teams, showcased stars and teams both emerging and established, ratcheted up regular season intensity and stakes.

And I’m saying this despite the Knicks getting royally screwed.
— Rit Holtzman (@BenRitholtzNBA) December 10, 2023

The in-season tournament was a genius creation
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) December 10, 2023

Aside from blinding courts and the belief that fans didn't follow the tourney until it reached the semifinals, it looks like a massive success for the NBA.

First, they needed the players to buy in, and it seems that the $500K prize for each player and bragging rights did the trick. For some, the final games and the championship had a playoff-like feel to them.

This game has the feel of a Game 7.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) December 10, 2023

I fully admit I was a hater at first of the NBA In-Season tournament but in the end I think it was great.

Idk if LeBron needs another $500,000 buttt it made things more interesting
— Claudia Bellofatto (@CBellofattoTV) December 10, 2023

The intensity of every game in the knockout round has been great. This championship, especially, feels like a huge game.

The In-Season Tournament, like the Play-In, is an NBA win.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) December 10, 2023

Things couldn't have worked out better for the NBA, with the championship decided between the upstart Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton and LeBron James and the Lakers.

James received MVP honors, averaging 26.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists and a 56.8 field-goal percentage for the tournament. However, while he had a standout night in the title game, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals, center Anthony Davis pulled the weight.

Davis was dominant, especially down the stretch, recording a game-high 41 points on 16-of-24 shooting while adding 20 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Haliburton led the way with 20 points and 11 assists. Entering play Saturday, Haliburton averaged 26.9 points, 12.1 assists and 2.2 turnovers over the previous 18 games. Per OptaStats, he's the first player since Magic Johnson in 1986-87 to post such a streak.

The NBA's ultimate goal was to make games during the middle of the long season mean something. After the first rendition of the tournament, they've seemingly accomplished that feat.

There will likely be changes to how it's structured and maybe the time frame in which it's played, but it's clear after Saturday it's here to stay.

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