The NBA’s first-ever in-season tournament final will take place on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, as the veteran Lakers take on the upstart Pacers for the right to hold the NBA Cup — and to earn championship bonuses worth $500K per player.
The Lakers may have the home-court advantage, given Los Angeles’ proximity to Vegas and the franchise’s huge fan base, but the Pacers have earned plenty of fans of their own in recent weeks with their fast-paced, high-scoring style of play. And they’ll enter the game as the lovable underdogs looking to knock off another highly star-studded opponent after defeating Boston in the quarterfinal and Milwaukee in the semifinal.
The Pacers’ 123.5 offensive rating is easily the NBA’s best mark, as is their pace (104.13 possessions per game). Tyrese Haliburton, who is submitting an MVP-caliber season thus far, leads the attack with 26.9 points and an NBA-best 12.1 assists per game, but the Pacers have no shortage of offensive options, with six other players averaging double-digit points per night (a seventh, Jalen Smith, won’t be available on Saturday).
They’ll be going up against one of the NBA’s stoutest defenses — the Lakers’ 110.3 defensive rating is tied for sixth-best in the league. Los Angeles also holds a significant edge in big-game experience. While Haliburton and several other Pacers have never played in the postseason, LeBron James alone has 282 playoff games on his résumé.
Of course, Saturday’s game isn’t a playoff contest, and Haliburton and the Pacers certainly haven’t shied away from the spotlight so far in the in-season tournament, having talked repeatedly about how they’re embracing the rare opportunity to play for a national audience.
Both teams have taken the tournament seriously so far and that doesn’t figure to change on Saturday, with $300K on the line (the runners-up will go home with bonuses worth $200K rather than $500K).
We want to know what you think. Are you taking the Pacers or the Lakers to win the first NBA Cup?
Place your vote below, then head to the comment section below to share your predictions.
Watching basketball broadcast on those courts everybody loses. Talk to one camera op before choosing your court colors Silver so it doesnt look like s*** with tons of digital distortion!
I go with the Lakers, but I think the Pacers will give them a serious run for their money.
AD is as always arguably the biggest factor for the Lakers. He can set the tone defensively.
But he won’t face easy competition as Myles Turner plays above the rim, just as him. He won’t have many uncontested shots at the rim, as he usually has. And Obi Toppin, can also really deter easy baskets in the paint.
AD won’t have the luxury of plugging on whenever he wants, as he usually accustoms. And even coming at 100% from the jump ball, there Will be no cakewalks tonight by any means.
Means more to Pacers. I think.
They are playing well. Surprise team so far. See what a real PG can do !!!!
Lakers will win it with help from the refs. Mark it.
Yes Lakers will win with or without help. They are better than Indy. I can’t wait for the Lebron is goat to up his chip total
I didn’t see an option for Who Cares?
Exactly!
The Lakers are only there to draw viewers. This game is about the NBA marketing machine building a future MVP in Haliburton.
Pick a lane
My conspiracy would be it was only to show that Zion is currently 4 lbs overweight
LeBron vs Carlisle…
two of the greatest basketball minds ever.
Love your joke. Funny stuff. LeBron with zero IQ in the clutch and Rick living off dirks legacy. Great stuff
Yeah… I guess with your experience and expertise, I need to defer
AD is a massive problem, literally, for the Pacers as they have no one with the bulk to match up (Turner is a fine off the ball defender). He may go 30-20 and LeBron will get his, but the Pacers get their sleep the night before and turn on the jets when the ball goes in the air. Pacers 137 – Lakers 131
AD got the 30-20 and LeBron did get his as well.
Pacers worst shooting night of the year. Laker’s defensive scheme took Haliburton out of the offense. Congrats Lakers…
Lakers 125 Pacers 118 Who cares 0
I haven’t paid attention to this In season tournament. For me, it’s not what the game needs and I don’t care to follow it.
I am glad people are finally starting to see it’s all rigged.