Following their convincing 107-96 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, the Los Angeles Lakers have positioned themselves with a flawless 3-0 record in the NBA In-Season Tournament.

This achievement comes on the heels of their earlier triumphs against the Phoenix Suns on November 10 and the Memphis Grizzlies on November 14.

The Western Group A, initially dubbed the “Group of Death,” now showcases the Lakers with a 7-6 record, leading the pack of four teams currently outside the top eight. While the Lakers acknowledge that their primary focus extends beyond winning the NBA Cup, they recognize the added excitement it brings to the regular season.

Assistant coach Darvin Ham emphasized the tournament’s impact on game intensity, stating, “I think it makes for interesting games. Definitely raises the intensity on what would normally be just a normal, run-of-the-mill regular season game… I think it’s been great thus far. But again, our top priority is to try to be the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be.”

LeBron James, who contributed significantly with 35 points in the Portland victory, echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the tournament as an incentive. He stated, “We understand what’s at stake. It’s not something — we’re putting all our eggs in one basket in the in-season tournament. But we know when the games come, every Tuesday and Friday, we know what it’s about, we know what’s at stake. So, it’s been good for us so far.”