Lakers clinch historic NBA Cup victory led by Davis, James
In the NBA's inaugural in-season tournament final, Anthony Davis' stellar 41-point performance powered the Los Angeles Lakers to a historic victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Davis also amassed 20 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks. His teammate, LeBron James, contributed 24 points and 11 rebounds to the Lakers' 123-109 win. James, at 38, earned the title of Most Valuable Player of the first-ever NBA Cup.
"Records are made to be broken, but being the first at something can never be surpassed," James remarked. "We are the inaugural champions of this tournament, a feat no one else can claim. It’s an honor to achieve this with such a storied franchise and an incredible group of talented, humorous, and fiercely competitive teammates."
The Pacers narrowed the gap to three points with just over six minutes left, but the Lakers responded with a decisive 13-point run, clinching the win. Lakers' Austin Reaves added a vital 28 points from the bench. Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin each scored 20 points, leading their team's effort.
The NBA Cup final, held in Las Vegas, stands apart as the tournament's only game not affecting regular season standings.
Reflecting on the loss, Haliburton said, "We're disappointed and frustrated. The Lakers outplayed us from start to finish. We fell short in key areas like securing loose balls, rebounding, and defensive stops. Their superior play tonight was disheartening.
