After almost a month of group play, the NBA in-season tournament knockout rounds are here.
On Saturday, a team will leave Las Vegas with the all-new NBA Cup, along with $500,000 in prize money for each player. Prize money will also be included for making the finals ($200,000), semifinals ($100,000) and quarterfinals ($50,000).
In the Western Conference semifinals, the final teams remaining were the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans. The No. 1-seeded Lakers took down the No. 3 Pelicans en route to a 133-89 win, led by LeBron James‘ 30 points, eight assists and five rebounds to qualify for championship Saturday.
As for the Eastern Conference semifinals, the two teams squaring off were the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers. The No. 2 seeded Pacers rode a remarkable performance from Tyrese Haliburton to a 128-119 win over the top-seeded Bucks.
Here are some of the best moments from the In-Season Tournament:
Los Angeles Lakers 133, New Orleans Pelicans 89
The last LBJ 3 was an absolute HEAT CHECK 🤯 https://t.co/GyfLnhsDpv pic.twitter.com/SqZPT5cdsd
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Bron lobs it up for AD, Lakers are rolling 💪
🏀 Pelicans/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/cNmiD2YkSv— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Walk-in 3 ✅
Hit the celly ✅ https://t.co/RHABlaeCnn pic.twitter.com/lKjYuRveZ7— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Indiana Pacers 128, Milwaukee Bucks 119
Buddy’s pregame trick shot ✅
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/3bsVkCRw9A— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
Hali somehow finds Obi with the wraparound DIME 🔥
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/lMwVgC0wHl— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
MYLES TURNER UNLOADS WITH TWO HANDS 😳
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/9ZFVCMP1qr— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023
OBI TOPPIN REVERSE LOB FROM HALF 😱
🏀 Pacers/Bucks on ESPN
🏆 Winner advances to Championship in Las Vegas on Saturday pic.twitter.com/5gNgv3WIMa— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
IT’S HALI’S TIME https://t.co/jxMaRG5CTu pic.twitter.com/cQVnjv5SQZ
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023
Los Angeles Lakers 106, Phoenix Suns 103
THE VISION 👑 https://t.co/Xho2k5WeGl pic.twitter.com/ZfmAvj5yTw
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
KD showing off his fluidity with the rock 💪 https://t.co/7dLIKHAWoB pic.twitter.com/n3kbrlX1ul
— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
LBJ powers his way to the and-1 BUCKET 💪
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/oRI0BDhRoQ— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
KD THROWS DOWN THE HAMMER 🔨
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/wBD7jjZ43t— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Austin Reaves is having himself a QUARTER ‼️
13 PTS in the 3Q 🔥
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/PqUtvlMomP— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
LEBRON TAKEOVER 👑
LBJ scores back-to-back buckets to put the Lakers ahead 102-97!
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/msYpS23HWM— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
AUSTIN REAVES. CLUTCH. 😤
Lakers lead 105-101 with 15 seconds left in the 4Q!
🏀 Suns/Lakers on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pelicans in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/Lp9qwAVzi1— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Milwaukee Bucks 146, New York Knicks 122
Isaiah Hartenstein follows the miss with a SLAM 😤
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/vLjXpm5vsw— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Randle finishes through CONTACT 💪
Julius has a season-high 36 PTS!
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/F0yV2bl5S5— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Giannis makes it look easy with the SPIN CYCLE layup!
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/DyrzBlzP8s— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
Lillard from beyond the arc!
Dame scored the last 13 PTS for Milwaukee going into halftime 🔥
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/y1XIQPf54z— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
FLIGHT 34 IS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ✈️
Giannis throws it down off the inbound lob 😤
🏀 Knicks/Bucks on TNT
🏆 Winner faces Pacers in Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/7yDCKiCMWk— NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2023
New Orleans Pelicans 127, Sacramento Kings 117
“For a trip to Veeeegas!” 🗣️
The In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals are here. CJ McCollum is feeling the vibe.
🏆 Kings-Pelicans
📺 10pm/et on TNT pic.twitter.com/rutB5nD0F3— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
HERBERT!!! pic.twitter.com/wyDSQ8Kb4P
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 5, 2023
“Be great! Be great!”
Jose Alvarado is mic’d up for the In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals 🗣️
🏀 Pelicans/Kings on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/2dbrEicbxW— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
JOSE ALVARADO WITH THE SIGNATURE STEAL IN SACRAMENTO 🤯
🏀 Pelicans/Kings on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/RAeO4IJsLA— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Malik Monk for 3⃣!
Sacramento has cut the lead to 5 👀
🏀 Pelicans/Kings on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/KXlFLywEAf— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
COAST TO COAST HERB! pic.twitter.com/594wyDYKwm
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 5, 2023
Indiana Pacers 122, Boston Celtics 112
JB throws it DOWN 🔨
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/gtng3bSFOg— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Tyrese Haliburton crosses over into the DEEP 3⃣
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/MXYj3XH34k— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
WHAT A SHOT.
HALI’S DAD LOVES IT 🗣️ https://t.co/ofchieEY1K pic.twitter.com/J3EsCp1kOy
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
AARON NESMITH THROWS IT DOWN.
ELECTRIC IN INDIANA 😱
🏀 Celtics/Pacers on TNT
🏆 Winner advances to Knockout Rounds Semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday pic.twitter.com/2OokAUpLG6— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023
Pacers brought the ENERGY tonight 💯
Peep all the best bench reactions from their In-Season Tournament Quarterfinals W 📹 pic.twitter.com/hWBrkXi9jg
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2023