LeBron James, Lakers blitz Pelicans to reach tournament title game – Daily News

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LeBron James, Lakers blitz Pelicans to reach tournament title game – Daily News

LAS VEGAS — The signs that LeBron James was going to have a special performance in Thursday’s In-Season Tournament semifinal appeared suddenly.

And the New Orleans Pelicans didn’t find an answer to the James-led onslaught, with the Lakers crushing the Pelicans, 133-89, at T-Mobile Arena to advance to the championship game of the inaugural event on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers.

With the Lakers trailing 30-29 after the first period, James opened the second quarter by knocking down a 3-pointer to give them a lead.

On the Lakers’ next possession, he made another 3-pointer. And then another one to give them a five-point lead. The last two 3-pointers came from the league and tournament logo and sent the pro-Lakers Vegas crowd into a frenzy, followed by a layup one minute later to give James 11 points in the quarter’s first three minutes.

James scored 18 of his 30 points in the second quarter – a season-high in a quarter for any Laker this season – to give the Lakers a 67-54 lead going into halftime.

“I’m a simple guy, so I just stick to one word: extraordinary,” Coach Darvin Ham said. “Otherworldly. That’s two, I know. One-of-one. That’s a phrase.

“But no, he is the ultimate tone-setter. His energy, him sacrificing his body, three charges. He set the tone for us on both ends of the basketball court. It’s a huge, huge blessing to have that working in your favor and to be on the same side as that.”

There was little resistance from the Pelicans, who won West Group B before beating the Sacramento Kings in a Monday quarterfinal to advance to the semifinals.

The Lakers (14-9), who have won three consecutive games and four of their past five, were in rhythm from behind the arc for the entire game (17 for 35 – 48.6%), and James continued to dominate. They outscored the Pelicans 43-17 in the third quarter – the most points they scored in a quarter this season – and ultimately outscored the Pelicans 81-41 in the middle two quarters to take a 110-71 lead going into the fourth.

“We have a lot of bodies,” Ham said. “A lot of long, athletic wings and players where we can switch randomly. We can switch deliberately. [Anthony Davis] is a huge, huge factor. Backing up and anchoring the back line of our defense. The biggest thing we talk about is playing with multiple efforts, trying to have multiple efforts.

“Strategies defensively, they are not always going to be perfect. So you can’t get discouraged. You just have to play with energy. Everybody understands what we’re playing for and what a great opportunity to be here in this city and in this tournament for us to reveal our competitive spirit [from] top to bottom. That’s what you saw.”

With the game well in hand, James and the rest of the Lakers’ core players were able to keep their minutes low and stay on the bench for the entire fourth quarter, with the team remaining undefeated in tournament play (6-0).

In addition to his 30 points, James also recorded eight assists (zero turnovers) and five rebounds in 23 minutes, shooting 9 for 12 from the field (4 for 4 from 3-point range) and making all eight of his free throws. He became the 41st player – and the oldest – to score at least 30 points in 23 or fewer minutes in a regular-season game, according to Stathead. His game-high individual plus/minutes of plus-36 is the highest among players who have accomplished the feat.

James also became the first player in NBA history to record at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists in 23 or fewer minutes.

“Trying to lead by example,” James said of his mentality entering Thursday. “Make plays on the floor, be unselfish, try to make the right plays offensively, defensively, cover for my teammates and live with the results.”

Davis had a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double to go with five assists, two blocked shots and two steals in 31 minutes.

Austin Reaves (17 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 23 minutes) was among six Laker players who scored in double figures. Taurean Prince scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from distance, tying his season-high for 3-pointers made in a game this season.

Reaves also credited James, who turns 39 later this month, for his leadership.

“Any time your best player sacrifices his body, takes three charges in the first half, especially with Zion (Williamson) coming down the paint, it sets a tone,” Reaves said. “That shows to everybody else how locked in he is to win this, and how locked in he is every game.”

The Lakers’ run to the title game, James said, is indicative of their potential. The four-time league MVP was particularly pleased with their defense – they held the Pelicans to 35.8% shooting, and they also had a 59-42 rebounding advantage.

“I think we are starting to get a feel for what we need to become a team for us to win basketball games, to be consistent,” James said. “Defensively, we’re really, really starting to tap into that like, OK, we’ve got to defend every single night. When we defend, we give ourselves a chance to win every night.”

Ham said the focus, aggressiveness and unselfishness he has seen from his team during this recent stretch of games makes them appear “damn near unstoppable.”

“It’s a beautiful thing to see this early,” Ham said. “I think the intensity that this tournament brings reveals that because it’s not just a regular-season game. It doesn’t feel like that. The stakes are way higher and you see people in those delicate moments what they are truly made of, at least the beginning stages.”

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