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.
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
π NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/7Jd5dzgHI8
AD hits the TOUGH and-one fade πͺ
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
The railcam angle π₯
π NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/0yJzYholoq
Austin Reaves shows off some balance for the tough bucket π€
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
π NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/8Z7hJBpFPv
Austin Reaves has 20 PTS in the first half π£οΈ
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
π NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/M6Ipsvle8n
LEBRON β‘οΈ AD
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
π 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 π
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
π NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/14RgjHlExQ
WHAT A SEQUENCE TO CUT THE LEAD TO 3 π€―
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
10-2 PACERS RUN TO START Q4.
π NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/Na5aMlJGv3
LEBRON TO THE RACK π¨
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
LAKERS ON A 15-5 RUN.
π NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/GcJzyp7mik
AD BLOCK. REDDISH JAM.
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
LAKERS LEAD IN VEGAS.
π NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/ZiTH0okE69
AD THROWS IT DOWN π¨
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
HE'S GOT 33 PTS AND 18 REB.
π NBA In-Season Tournament Championship on ABC pic.twitter.com/VjlWB1x5Zi
AD IS DOMINATING IN VEGAS π±
β NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2023
39 PTS \ 20 REB \ 5 AST \ 4 BLK
π 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 π #NBACupRedCarpet
β NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2023
π Lakers-Pacers
β° 8:30pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/Yp9ywqYBi6
π pic.twitter.com/PZdeOb8Opu
β Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 9, 2023
β Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 10, 2023
Tyrese Haliburton pulls up to the #NBACupRedCarpet for the In-Season Tournament Championship πΆοΈ
β NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2023
π Lakers-Pacers
β° 8:30pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/2SfRvVBbGw
Rui and DLo on the #NBACupRedCarpet π
β NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2023
π Lakers-Pacers | In-Season Tournament Championship
β° 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 π€― https://t.co/GyfLnhsDpv pic.twitter.com/SqZPT5cdsd
β NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Bron lobs it up for AD, Lakers are rolling πͺ
β NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
π Pelicans/Lakers on TNT
π Winner faces Pacers in Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/cNmiD2YkSv
Walk-in 3 β
β NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Hit the celly β https://t.co/RHABlaeCnn pic.twitter.com/lKjYuRveZ7
Indiana Pacers 128, Milwaukee Bucks 119
Buddy's pregame trick shot β
β NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
π Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
π Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/3bsVkCRw9A
Hali somehow finds Obi with the wraparound DIME π₯
β NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
π Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
π Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/lMwVgC0wHl
MYLES TURNER UNLOADS WITH TWO HANDS π³
β NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
π Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
π Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/9ZFVCMP1qr
OBI TOPPIN REVERSE LOB FROM HALF π±
β NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
π Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
π 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
β NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Los Angeles Lakers 106, Phoenix Suns 103
THE VISION π https://t.co/Xho2k5WeGl pic.twitter.com/ZfmAvj5yTw
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
KD showing off his fluidity with the rock πͺ https://t.co/7dLIKHAWoB pic.twitter.com/n3kbrlX1ul
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
LBJ powers his way to the and-1 BUCKET πͺ
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
π Suns/Lakers on TNT
π Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/oRI0BDhRoQ
KD THROWS DOWN THE HAMMER π¨
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
π Suns/Lakers on TNT
π Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/wBD7jjZ43t
Austin Reaves is having himself a QUARTER βΌοΈ
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
13 PTS in the 3Q π₯
π Suns/Lakers on TNT
π Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/PqUtvlMomP
LEBRON TAKEOVER π
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
LBJ scores back-to-back buckets to put the Lakers ahead 102-97!
π Suns/Lakers on TNT
π Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/msYpS23HWM
AUSTIN REAVES. CLUTCH. π€
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Lakers lead 105-101 with 15 seconds left in the 4Q!
π Suns/Lakers on TNT
π 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 π€
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
π Knicks/Bucks on TNT
π Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/vLjXpm5vsw
Randle finishes through CONTACT πͺ
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Julius has a season-high 36 PTS!
π Knicks/Bucks on TNT
π 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!
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
π Knicks/Bucks on TNT
π Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/DyrzBlzP8s
Lillard from beyond the arc!
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Dame scored the last 13 PTS for Milwaukee going into halftime π₯
π Knicks/Bucks on TNT
π Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/y1XIQPf54z
FLIGHT 34 IS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF βοΈ
β NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Giannis throws it down off the inbound lob π€
π Knicks/Bucks on TNT
π 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!" π£οΈ
β NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
The In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals are here. CJ McCollum is feeling the vibe.
π Kings-Pelicans
πΊ 10pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/rutB5nD0F3
HERBERT!!! pic.twitter.com/wyDSQ8Kb4P
β New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 5, 2023
"Be great! Be great!"
β NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Jose Alvarado is mic'd up for the In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals π£οΈ
π Pelicans/Kings on TNT
π Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/2dbrEicbxW
JOSE ALVARADO WITH THE SIGNATURE STEAL IN SACRAMENTO π€―
β NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
π Pelicans/Kings on TNT
π Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/RAeO4IJsLA
Malik Monk for 3β£!
β NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Sacramento has cut the lead to 5 π
π Pelicans/Kings on TNT
π Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/KXlFLywEAf
COAST TO COAST HERB! pic.twitter.com/594wyDYKwm
β New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 5, 2023
Indiana Pacers 122, Boston Celtics 112
JB throws it DOWN π¨
β NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
π Celtics/Pacers on TNT
π Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/gtng3bSFOg
Tyrese Haliburton crosses over into the DEEP 3β£
β NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
π Celtics/Pacers on TNT
π Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/MXYj3XH34k
WHAT A SHOT.
β NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
HALI'S DAD LOVES IT π£οΈ https://t.co/ofchieEY1K pic.twitter.com/J3EsCp1kOy
AARON NESMITH THROWS IT DOWN.
β NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
ELECTRIC IN INDIANA π±
π Celtics/Pacers on TNT
π Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/2OokAUpLG6
Pacers brought the ENERGY tonight π―
β NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Peep all the best bench reactions from their In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals W πΉ pic.twitter.com/hWBrkXi9jg