The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans by a commanding 44-point margin in the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals, advancing to the championship game against the Indiana Pacers. LeBron James led the way for the Lakers with 30 points, while Anthony Davis contributed 16 points and 15 rebounds.

The game was evenly balanced in the first quarter, with both teams trading baskets. However, the Lakers took control in the second quarter behind a barrage of three-pointers from James and his teammates. James scored 11 points in a row and 18 in the quarter, while D'Angelo Russell and Taurean Prince also contributed from beyond the arc. Los Angeles took a 13-point lead into halftime.

The Lakers continued to dominate in the second half, with James and Davis leading the charge. The lead swelled to 20 points in the third quarter and 30 points in the fourth quarter. The Pelicans had no answer for the Lakers' offensive onslaught, and the game was effectively over by the end of the third quarter.

The Lakers will face the Indiana Pacers in the In-Season Tournament championship game on Saturday. The Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks earlier in the day, and the two teams will be looking to secure a piece of silverware before the start of the regular season.