Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers to compete in NBA Cup Finals in Las Vegas
The two teams are still competing for the NBA Cup in Las Vegas. The Los Angeles Lakers are betting favorites on Saturday as they take on the high-scoring Indiana Pacers in the inaugural NBA In-Season Championship Game.
The Lakers earned a controversial victory over the Phoenix Suns in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans by 44 points in the semifinals on Thursday night in Las Vegas.
The Pacers have been the surprising team in the tournament this season, posting two surprising wins against two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the Boston Celtics in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Then on Thursday night, the Pacers defeated the consensus favorite Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinals.
We're a disruptor and a lot of people don't want us here," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said."We don't care. We deserve to be here and we deserve to be in three more nationally televised games. So people will get to know the Pacers, who we are and how we play. "
Oddsmakers have the Lakers at -4 odds in the championship game. Total score 241/under 241. The finals of the in-season tournament will be held at 5:30 p.m. local time at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be broadcast by ABC.
away win
LeBron James skipped college from high school and went straight to the NBA. He never had the chance to play in a high-stakes, single-elimination tournament like March Madness where he would go home if he lost. In-season tournaments fill this gap.
"It's really cool," James said. "Every game is important. I love it."
James averaged 25 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game this season and shot 40.7% from three-point range. James averaged 30.5 points, 9.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds in the two playoff games. He also shot 75% from three-point range.
The Lakers will do everything they can to try to slow down the Pacers, who lead the NBA with 128.4 points per game. If the Pacers can maintain this pace for the remainder of the season, they will set a new record as the highest-scoring team in NBA history.
We're starting to understand what we need to be a team, win basketball games and be consistent," James added."When we play defense, we give ourselves a chance to win every night. "
Since the start of the quarterfinals, the Lakers have held their opponents to an average of 96 points per game.
James is the favorite to win the in-season tournament MVP at -145 odds.
Tyrese Haliburton Breakout Star
Unless you live in Indiana, it's hard to see point guard Tyrese Haliburton on TV. Thanks to the in-season tournament, fans finally get a chance to watch the exciting Haliburton team play against the rabid Pacers.
After Haliburton played two seasons at Iowa State, the Sacramento Kings selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. In his first season in the league, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team.
In the middle of the 2021-22 season, the Kings traded Haliburton and Buddy Hield to the Pacers for big man Domantas Sabonis. Haliburton was outstanding in the final 26 games of the season, averaging 17.5 points per game for the Pacers.
Haliburton averaged 20.7 points and 10.4 assists per game last season and was selected as an NBA All-Star.
Haliburton Seasons
This season, Haliburton is averaging 26.9 points per game and leads the league with 12.1 assists per game.
Haliburton has not committed a turnover since the start of the knockout round of the in-season tournament on Tuesday and is shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. In the quarterfinals against the Celtics, he scored 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds, defeating the Celtics with 10 points and achieving his first career triple-double. He had 27 points and 15 assists in a nine-point win over the Bucks on Thursday night.
"We performed right and we're shocking the world right now," Haliburton said. "We will continue to do this."
Haliburton has a +115 chance to win the in-season tournament MVP. Even if the Pacers lose to the Lakers in the Finals, Haliburton can still compete for MVP with his outstanding performance.
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Source: www.casino.org
