The brand new NBA tournament began with a more than well-known result: the Los Angeles Lakers lifting the trophy and LeBron James named MVP of the tournament.
The Lakers won the NBA Cup after beating the Indiana Pacers 123-109 on Saturday night, in the first final of the NBA In-Season Tournament, created to reinforce the first part of the season.
After a 4-0 finish to Group Play, the Lakers stayed hot to become the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament Champions 🏆
Watch their BEST PLAYS from the tournament 📹 pic.twitter.com/H0LjlTRD9q
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
LeBron, at 39 years old, has set a new record to beat. Aside from winning the NBA Cup, he was named MVP. By naming him the best player of the tournament, NBA commissioner Adam Silver also made him the first athlete to be the MVP of this tournament and the league.
Anthony Davis had an outstanding performance, with 41 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. Austin Reaves scored 28 points, followed by LeBron with 24 and D'Angelo Russell with 13.
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
There is a long season ahead. The result is a good sign for both the Lakers and the Pacers, who surprised everyone at the tournament. In the words of Coach Rick Carlisle:
Our guys got a real taste of what the elevated stage is all about. It's so important to have this experience, to feel the intensity, to feel the glare and the glow and to find out what it means to be totally together in an effort to conquer it. We conquered a lot of challenges along the way. This one tonight was a little too steep.
