Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns 106-103 to advance to the semifinals of the inaugural NBA in-season tournament. LeBron James accounted for 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter.
Austin Reaves scored 20 points and Anthony Davis accumulated 27 points and 15 rebounds for the top-seeded Lakers, who will travel to Las Vegas on Thursday to face the New Orleans Pelicans. Also on Thursday, the Milwaukee Bucks will host the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
Saturday will mark the championship game, in which the victorious team will be awarded the NBA Cup.
James completed the game with a masterful shooting performance and 11 assists, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals. Los Angeles surged ahead on the strength of the 21-year veteran’s 15 points and two assists on his teammates’ other two baskets in the final minute.
Kevin Durant led the Suns in scoring with 31 points, but he narrowly missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer. Phoenix had won eight of ten prior to suffering its third loss of the season to Los Angeles.
With 29 seconds remaining, Devin Booker reduced the Lakers’ lead to 102-101 on a layup, but Reaves buried his third 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining. Moments later, Davis missed one of two free throw opportunities that helped create the space for Durant’s potential tying shot, while another layup was made.
Grayson Allen and Booker each contributed 21 points for Phoenix.
The Lakers secured the top Western Conference berth by advancing through the tournament’s group stage undefeated, including a victory at Phoenix on November 10. Following their recovery from that setback, the Suns earned a wild card entry into the knockout round.Lakers head coach Darvin Ham and Phoenix head coach Frank Vogel both stated that their teams’ players are embracing the spirit of the in-season tournament, especially with the incentive to earn monetary bonuses for their teams’ support staff and younger players, while supporters continue to debate its merits.
“That bag is well known to them,” Ham remarked with a chuckle. “Money speaks, man.”Due to a persistent back injury, Bradley Beal missed his eleventh consecutive game for the Suns. Despite committing 22 turnovers, the Suns persevered despite their two fit superstars struggling with foul trouble. Booker committed his fifth penalty early in the fourth quarter, whereas Durant accumulated four fouls heading into the dying seconds of the game before committing his fifth with 3:18 remaining.
Phoenix committed the most turnovers in the league this season with ten in the first quarter alone. The Suns, who trailed by 15 in the first half, took the lead with 14 consecutive points after halftime.