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 (@NBA) December 10, 2023
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/7Jd5dzgHI8
AD hits the TOUGH and-one fade 💪
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
The railcam angle 🔥
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/0yJzYholoq
Austin Reaves shows off some balance for the tough bucket 😤
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/8Z7hJBpFPv
Austin Reaves has 20 PTS in the first half 🗣️
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/M6Ipsvle8n
LEBRON ➡️ AD
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/C70bSPQnpQ
Mathurin cashes the floating triple at the Q3 buzzer to cut the lead to 8 👀
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/14RgjHlExQ
WHAT A SEQUENCE TO CUT THE LEAD TO 3 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
10-2 PACERS RUN TO START Q4.
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/Na5aMlJGv3
LEBRON TO THE RACK 🔨
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
LAKERS ON A 15-5 RUN.
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/GcJzyp7mik
AD BLOCK. REDDISH JAM.
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
LAKERS LEAD IN VEGAS.
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/ZiTH0okE69
AD THROWS IT DOWN 🔨
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
HE'S GOT 33 PTS AND 18 REB.
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/VjlWB1x5Zi
AD IS DOMINATING IN VEGAS 😱
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
39 PTS \ 20 REB \ 5 AST \ 4 BLK
🏆 NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/WhgLohDqzs
Top fashion arrivals from the championship game
LeBron arrives in style for the In-Season Tournament Championship 🏆 #NBACupRedCarpet
— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2023
🏀 Lakers-Pacers
⏰ 8:30pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/Yp9ywqYBi6
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 9, 2023
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 10, 2023
Tyrese Haliburton pulls up to the #NBACupRedCarpet for the In-Season Tournament Championship 🕶️
— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2023
🏆 Lakers-Pacers
⏰ 8:30pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/2SfRvVBbGw
Rui and DLo on the #NBACupRedCarpet 👀
— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2023
🏆 Lakers-Pacers | In-Season Tournament Championship
⏰ 8:30pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/C7SP0cVKk3
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 💪
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
🏀 Pelicans/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/cNmiD2YkSv
Walk-in 3 ✅
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Hit the celly ✅ https://t.co/RHABlaeCnn pic.twitter.com/lKjYuRveZ7
Indiana Pacers 128, Milwaukee Bucks 119
Buddy's pregame trick shot ✅
— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/3bsVkCRw9A
Hali somehow finds Obi with the wraparound DIME 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/lMwVgC0wHl
MYLES TURNER UNLOADS WITH TWO HANDS 😳
— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/9ZFVCMP1qr
OBI TOPPIN REVERSE LOB FROM HALF 😱
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/5gNgv3WIMa
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 💪
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/oRI0BDhRoQ
KD THROWS DOWN THE HAMMER 🔨
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/wBD7jjZ43t
Austin Reaves is having himself a QUARTER ‼️
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
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
LEBRON TAKEOVER 👑
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
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
AUSTIN REAVES. CLUTCH. 😤
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
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
Milwaukee Bucks 146, New York Knicks 122
Isaiah Hartenstein follows the miss with a SLAM 😤
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/vLjXpm5vsw
Randle finishes through CONTACT 💪
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
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
Giannis makes it look easy with the SPIN CYCLE layup!
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/DyrzBlzP8s
Lillard from beyond the arc!
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
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
FLIGHT 34 IS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ✈️
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
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
New Orleans Pelicans 127, Sacramento Kings 117
"For a trip to Veeeegas!" 🗣️
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
The In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals are here. CJ McCollum is feeling the vibe.
🏆 Kings-Pelicans
📺 10pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/rutB5nD0F3
HERBERT!!! pic.twitter.com/wyDSQ8Kb4P
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 5, 2023
"Be great! Be great!"
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
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
JOSE ALVARADO WITH THE SIGNATURE STEAL IN SACRAMENTO 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
🏀 Pelicans/Kings on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/RAeO4IJsLA
Malik Monk for 3⃣!
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
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
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 🔨
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/gtng3bSFOg
Tyrese Haliburton crosses over into the DEEP 3⃣
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/MXYj3XH34k
WHAT A SHOT.
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
HALI'S DAD LOVES IT 🗣️ https://t.co/ofchieEY1K pic.twitter.com/J3EsCp1kOy
AARON NESMITH THROWS IT DOWN.
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
ELECTRIC IN INDIANA 😱
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/2OokAUpLG6
Pacers brought the ENERGY tonight 💯
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Peep all the best bench reactions from their In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals W 📹 pic.twitter.com/hWBrkXi9jg
