The team that Kevin Durant thinks will win the first NBA In-Season Tournament has been revealed, and it shouldn’t be shocking.

With a 106-103 quarterfinal defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, the Phoenix Suns were ousted from the In-Season Tournament. Durant was asked to estimate which team would win the $500,000 award per player after the game. To K.D., the Lakers seem like a formidable team.

“I’m gonna go with the Lakers since they beat us,” Durant said. “They got the size to compete with anybody. They got the quickest flight out of anybody (to Las Vegas), the most fans out of anybody. It’s set up for them to win. I can’t wait to watch. The intensity of these games has been incredible. I wasn’t a fan as they were forming this (tournament), but now I’m a huge fan.”

Naturally, a lot of people believe that the Suns ought to be the ones remaining in the tournament given the contentious manner in which their matchup with the Lakers concluded. Durant refuted all of it, saying the Suns’ defeat was not due to a single dubious decision.

The Lakers are on a collision course with the Pacers as they advance to the In-Season Tournament final. A highly anticipated matchup awaits, promising an intense battle between two formidable teams. The showdown with the Pacers adds an extra layer of excitement to the tournament, as both teams vie for the coveted title. 

Fans eagerly await the clash of these basketball titans, anticipating a thrilling contest that will undoubtedly showcase the skills and determination of these powerhouse teams. The stage is set for a memorable final, where the Lakers and Pacers will go head-to-head in a quest for supremacy in the In-Season Tournament.