LeBron James Big 4th Quarter Lakers Suns 106-103 Tourney Semifinals

LeBron James scores 31 points, leading Lakers to In-Season Tournament semifinals; Giannis Antetokounmpo's 35 points help Bucks advance.

LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 106-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns, securing the last semifinal spot in the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. James scored 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter and also contributed 11 assists, eight rebounds, and five steals. Anthony Davis had 27 points and 15 rebounds, while Austin Reaves scored 20 points for the Lakers, who will face New Orleans in Las Vegas on Thursday.

The Lakers pulled ahead in the final period thanks to James' masterful shooting performance and his ability to set up his teammates for baskets. Despite Kevin Durant's 31 points for the Suns, they were unable to secure the win, losing to the Lakers for the third time this season.

In another game, the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the New York Knicks 146-122 to reach the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 35 points and 10 assists, while Damian Lillard added 28 points for the Bucks, who shot 60.5% from 3-point range and 60.4% overall. The win extended Milwaukee's home winning streak to nine games.

The Knicks, led by Julius Randle's season-high 41 points, saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Jalen Brunson added 24 points and R.J. Barrett scored 23 for New York, who earned a wild-card berth in the knockout round through a point-differential tiebreaker.

These results set up exciting matchups for the semifinals in Las Vegas, showcasing the talent and competitiveness of the NBA In-Season Tournament. For more NBA news and updates, visit the AP NBA website.

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