Pacers Come From Behind, Clinch In-Season Tournament Final Berth
The Indiana Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 128-119, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the semifinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament on Thursday. With the win, the Pacers moved to the final of the tournament.
The Pacers and the Bucks played a thrilling encounter that went down the wire and was only decided in the final minutes of the contest. The Pacers got off to a better start and looked like the better team in the early stages, however. A 29-27 lead for the Bucks in the first quarter didn’t slow down Indiana, and the Pacers responded with a 36-22 score in the second quarter to grab the lead at halftime. Led by Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard, the Bucks responded in the third quarter and restored the lead after outscoring Indiana by a 43-28 score. However, the Bucks didn’t have enough in them to hang with the Pacers’ explosive offense in the final minutes. Indiana outscored Milwaukee by a 37-25 score in the final quarter to close things out.
Tyrese Haliburton was the star of the game for the Pacers after posting 27 points, 15 assists, seven rebounds and zero turnovers. Myles Turner racked up 26 points and 10 rebounds, but he also swatted four shots. Obi Toppin finished with 14 points and six rebounds, and Bruce Brown delivered 10 points with three rebounds. Buddy Hield only had eight points. Isaiah Jackson had 11 points and six rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks with 37 points and 10 rebounds. He also added two assists and two blocks. Damian Lillard finished with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Khris Middleton contributed 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Brook Lopez had 18 points, six rebounds, four blocks and two assists. Malik Beasley finished with seven points.
The Pacers and the Bucks played a thrilling encounter that went down the wire and was only decided in the final minutes of the contest. The Pacers got off to a better start and looked like the better team in the early stages, however. A 29-27 lead for the Bucks in the first quarter didn’t slow down Indiana, and the Pacers responded with a 36-22 score in the second quarter to grab the lead at halftime. Led by Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard, the Bucks responded in the third quarter and restored the lead after outscoring Indiana by a 43-28 score. However, the Bucks didn’t have enough in them to hang with the Pacers’ explosive offense in the final minutes. Indiana outscored Milwaukee by a 37-25 score in the final quarter to close things out.
Tyrese Haliburton was the star of the game for the Pacers after posting 27 points, 15 assists, seven rebounds and zero turnovers. Myles Turner racked up 26 points and 10 rebounds, but he also swatted four shots. Obi Toppin finished with 14 points and six rebounds, and Bruce Brown delivered 10 points with three rebounds. Buddy Hield only had eight points. Isaiah Jackson had 11 points and six rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks with 37 points and 10 rebounds. He also added two assists and two blocks. Damian Lillard finished with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Khris Middleton contributed 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Brook Lopez had 18 points, six rebounds, four blocks and two assists. Malik Beasley finished with seven points.
Lakers Throttle Pelicans, 133-89
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 133-89, at T-Mobile Arena in an In-Season Tournament Semifinal Game. The Lakers advance to the In-Season Tournament Final against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night.
What was expected to be a close game started off as such, with the Lakers (14-9) trailing the Pelicans (12-11) by one point after one. However, Los Angeles changed the entire dynamic of the game in the middle periods, outscoring New Orleans by a massive 81-41 margin to make the final period the ultimate formality. The Lakers shot 54.7 percent, including 48.6 percent from three-point range, while also enjoying a 59-42 rebounding advantage.
Trey Murphy led the Pelicans with 14 points, adding three rebounds and one assist. Zion Williamson furnished 13 points, three assists and two rebounds. Herbert Jones delivered 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block. Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas and CJ McCollum all finished with nine points, with Ingram adding seven assists.
LeBron James paced the Lakers with 30 points, complementing them with eight assists and five rebounds. Austin Reaves supplied 17 points, seven assists, five rebounds and one steal. Anthony Davis generated a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double that included five assists, two steals and two blocks. Taurean Prince registered 15 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. D'Angelo Russell compiled 14 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Rui Hachimura netted 12 points.
What was expected to be a close game started off as such, with the Lakers (14-9) trailing the Pelicans (12-11) by one point after one. However, Los Angeles changed the entire dynamic of the game in the middle periods, outscoring New Orleans by a massive 81-41 margin to make the final period the ultimate formality. The Lakers shot 54.7 percent, including 48.6 percent from three-point range, while also enjoying a 59-42 rebounding advantage.
Trey Murphy led the Pelicans with 14 points, adding three rebounds and one assist. Zion Williamson furnished 13 points, three assists and two rebounds. Herbert Jones delivered 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block. Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas and CJ McCollum all finished with nine points, with Ingram adding seven assists.
LeBron James paced the Lakers with 30 points, complementing them with eight assists and five rebounds. Austin Reaves supplied 17 points, seven assists, five rebounds and one steal. Anthony Davis generated a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double that included five assists, two steals and two blocks. Taurean Prince registered 15 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. D'Angelo Russell compiled 14 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Rui Hachimura netted 12 points.