The championship matchup for the inaugural in-season tournament is set, as the Lakers will battle the upstart Pacers in a winner-take-$500,000 game Saturday night. Los Angeles made the final by virtue of a 133–89 beatdown of the Pelicans, while Indiana continued its Cinderella run with a 128–119 win over the Bucks.
Here are five takeaways from an exciting night of hoops.
1. LeBron James wants this. LeBron was sensational during the Lakers’ drubbing of the Pelicans. He scored 30 points in only 23 minutes, with the game so far out of hand he didn’t need to play in much of the second half. Whatever James wanted he got, draining all four of his threes while also barreling his way to the rim and free throw line. You don’t need me to tell you that James, even in Year 21, is one of the best players in basketball. What was especially satisfying about LeBron’s performance is how much he seems to have bought into the tournament. James may not have had Finals intensity, but he definitely wanted to put on a show. From drawing charges to pulling up for heat-check threes, LeBron was all in with a flair. If the IST is ever going to take off, ultimately it needs these types of concerted efforts from the game’s best players. It was reassuring to see James kick into another gear with a new trophy in his sights.
