LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers Become 1st NBA In-Season Tournament Champions - IST Tracker
The New York Knicks are moving in the NBA's In-Season Tournament: by virtue of a plus-42 point differential in four games against Group B competition, the Knicks were the top-finishing runner-up in the Eastern Conference and will now partake in the eight-team knockout round for a chance to play for big money and a big trophy in Las Vegas.
A trip to Milwaukee in the quarterfinal round looms first, while the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers square off elsewhere on the Eastern bracket.
Keep track of all the happenings in the knockout round and beyond below ...
Scores and Schedule
(All Times ET) (All Games on NBA League Pass unless noted)
Monday, December 4
Indiana 122, Boston 112
New Orleans 127, Sacramento 117
The Knicks faced Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on Nov. 3
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Tuesday, December 5
Milwaukee 146, KNICKS 122
LA Lakers 106, Phoenix 103
Thursday, December 7
East Semifinal: Indiana 128, Milwaukee 119 (@ Las Vegas, NV)
West Semifinal: LA Lakers 133, New Orleans 89 (@ Las Vegas, NV)
Thursday, December 9
Championship Game: LA Lakers 123, Indiana 109
Knockout Game Recaps
12/4 HALIBURTON HISTORY HELPS PACERS PUNT CELTICS
The Indiana Pacers became the first team to punch their ticket to Las Vegas, topping the Boston Celtics 122-112 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. Tyrese Haliburton led the way for Indiana (11-8) with his first career triple-double at 26 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds. Sixteen of Haliburton's tallies came in the second half, including four on a successful and-one opportunity on a three-pointer that gave the Pacers the lead for good in the penultimate minute. Boston (15-5), which was missing Kristaps Porzingis due to a calf strain, was paced a 32-point, 12-rebound double-double for Jayson Tatum.
12/4 PELICANS PECK KINGS IN SACARAMENTO
The New Orleans Pelicans prevailed in a battle of up-and-coming teams, taking the first Western Conference quarterfinal by a 127-117 final over the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Brandon Ingram's 30-point night led the way on 10-of-20 shooting while Jonas Valanciunas had an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. New Orleans (12-10) shot 54 percent from the field and exclusively led throughout the second half despite a lively crowd at California's capital. De'Aaron Fox led the way for Sacramento (11-8) with a matching 30 while Domantas Saboinis had a triple-double to the tune of 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.
12/5 MILWAU-3 BUCKS KNICKS IN OUTSIDE SHOOTING BARRAGE
The Milwaukee Bucks punched their ticket to The Neon City with a lights-out shooting performance, hitting 23 three-pointers in a 146-122 quarterfinal victory over the New York Knicks. Milwaukee (15-6) shot over 60 percent from the field and hit 23 triples on 38 attempts. Wasted in the effort was Julius Randle's finest offensive output of the season, as the two-time All-Star hit each of his nine attempts in the first half en route to shooting 14-of-19 overall. But the Knicks (12-8) were unable to stifle Milwaukee's offensive momentum, which was paced by six triples alone for Malik Beasley and a 35-point, 10-assist double-double for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
12/5 LAKERS COOL SUNS BEHIND JAMES' FANTASTIC FOURTH
LeBron James heroics and controversy defined the other Western Conference quarterfinal portion, which saw the Los Angeles Lakers get by the Phoenix Suns 106-103. James had a role in each of 19 of the Lakers' 23 points in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of them himself and dishing out assists on the other two field goals. Phoenix cried foul when James was granted a late timeout called by James during an apparent loose ball with under 15 seconds remaining, but it allowed Los Angeles (13-9) to seal the deal. Elsewhere in the Laker box score, Anthony Davis put up 27 points and 15 rebounds while Austin Reaves had 20 points off the bench. For the Suns (12-9), Kevin Durant had 31 points on a 12-of-17 effort from the field.
12/7 HALIBURTON SAVES BEST FOR LAST, PACERS BEAT BUCKS
Tyrese Haliburton's breakout party officially moved to Las Vegas, as the Indiana Pacers' Cinderella run continued to the tune of a 128-119 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference final portion of the semifinal round. Haliburton posted a 27-point, 15-assist double-double and played a role in 33 of the Pacers' 68 points in the second half, scoring 16 on his own and dishing out eight helpers in that span. Indiana (12-8) also enjoyed a double-double from Myles Turner (26 points, 10 rebounds) while the second unit, led by 11 points and six rebounds for Isaiah Jackson, outscored Milwaukee's 43-13. The Bucks (15-7) were paced by 37 points for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Beyond his 13-of-19 effort from the field, Milwaukee shot 30-of-75 from the field.
12/7 LAKERS POUND PELICANS BEHIND JAMES, DAVIS DOMINATION
After a narrow first quarter, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers made quick work of the New Orleans Pelicans in Las Vegas' Western Conference semifinal to the tune of a 133-89 shellacking in the Western Conference portion of the semifinals. LeBron James continued his dominant knockout round, scoring 30 points, dishing out eight assists, and pulling in five rebounds in only 23 minutes of action. New Orleans led by one after the opening period but James scoring each of the Lakers' first 11 points of the second began the process of pulling away. Los Angeles (14-9), which posted a 43-17 advantage in the third quarter, also enjoyed a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double from Anthony Davis against his former team while Austin Reaves had 17 points and seven assists off the bench. The downtrodden Pelicans (12-11) were led by 14 in relief for Trey Murphy III.
12/9 DAVIS DOMINATION CLINCHES IST TITLE FOR LAKERS
The Los Angeles Lakers became the first champions of the NBA In-Season Tournament on Saturday night with a 123-109 defeat of the Indiana Pacers. Anthony Davis took over to the tune of a 41-point, 20-rebound showcase, while LeBron James added 24 and 11 respectively. Austin Reaves added 28 off the bench for Los Angeles, which pulled away with a 13-0 run that snuffed out an Indiana rally that got them as close as three just past the midway mark of the final quarter. Davis had all but three points in that span, the outlier triple earned by Cam Reddish. Tyrese Haliburton capped off his own dominant In-Season Tournament run with 20 points and 11 assists, sharing the team lead in scoring with Bennedict Mathurin. Saturday's game did not count for either team in the regular season standings.
Consolation Games
(All Times ET) (All Games on NBA League Pass unless noted)
Wednesday, December 6
Memphis 116, Detroit 102
Miami 112, Memphis 103
Cleveland 121, Orlando 111
Philadelphia 131, Washington 126
Brooklyn 114, Atlanta 113
Minnesota 102, San Antonio 94
Chicago 111, Charlotte 100
Houston 110, Oklahoma City 101
Dallas 147, Utah 97
LA Clippers 111, Denver 102
Golden State 110, Portland 106
Friday, December 8
Philadelphia 125, Atlanta 114
Orlando 123, Detroit 91
Charlotte 119, Toronto 116
Boston 133, KNICKS 123
Brooklyn 124, Washington 97
Cleveland 111, Miami 99
Oklahoma City 138, Golden State 136
Minnesota 127, Memphis 103
Chicago 121, San Antonio 112
Houston 114, Denver 106
Sacramento 114, Phoenix 106
Dallas 125, Portland 112
LA Clippers 117, Utah 103
