Los Angeles Lakers to face Indiana Pacers in first ever NBA In-Season tournament final

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 30, 2021 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

You may love the NBA In-Season Tournament or hate it, (I am of the latter as it creates a complete disruption to the entire regular schedule, creates an imbalance to the total number of games played at the end of the season, and I am just a genuine opponent of change), but you cannot ignore the fact the quality of basketball has been pretty good. On Thursday, the finalists were determined in Las Vegas on Saturday. In the semifinals, the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-119 and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 133-89.

We have documented about Indiana’s great offense and awful defense so far this season, so the fact there was 247 points scored on Thursday was no surprise. Five Pacers reached double digits in scoring. Guard Tyrese Haliburton of Oshkosh, Wisconsin had 27 points, center Myles Turner of Bedford, Texas had 26 points, power forward Obi Toppin of Brooklyn, New York had 14 points, power forward Isaiah Jackson of Pontiac, Michigan had 11 points and Bruce Brown Jr. of Boston, Massachusetts had 10 points. Haliburton and Turner both had double-doubles. Haliburton led the Pacers with 15 assists, while Turner had 10 rebounds. Small forward Buddy Hield of Freeport, Bahamas led the Pacers with 11 rebounds.

The Lakers meanwhile outscored the Pelicans 67-54 in the first half, and 66-35 in the second half. There were six Lakers who reached double digits in scoring. Forward LeBron James of Akron, Ohio had 30 points, shooting guard Austin Reaves of Newark, Arkansas had 17 points, center Anthony Davis of Chicago, Illinois had 16 points, guard Taurean Prince of San Marcos, Texas had 15 points, guard D’Angelo Russell of Louisville, Kentucky had 14 points, and forward Rui Hachimura had 12 points.

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