The Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Utah Jazz in the final group play match of the NBA In-Season Tournament on Tuesday evening.

The Lakers achieved their goal of securing the group and advancing to the quarterfinals with a 131-97 rout of the Jazz. Los Angeles, seeded among the top two in the Western Conference, will serve as the host of the quarterfinal match prior to Las Vegas hosting the tournament’s semifinals and championship games. This predicament is justified by their impeccable 4-0 record in group competition.

To begin this contest, D’Angelo Russell assisted LeBron James in making a basket for eight uncomplicated points. James established his form early on by making two free throws and one triple to help the Lakers take an 11-7 lead. With the three-point assist, LeBron James became the first player in league history to surpass 39,000 points.

Simple layups by Anthony Davis, Christian Wood, and Taurean Prince extended the Lakers’ lead to double digits, 24–11. This season marked the debut of the Lakers penalizing the Jazz in the low post.

Austin Reaves drilled a late three-pointer to increase the Los Angeles lead to 32-17 entering the second quarter. Davis solitaryd in the first quarter with eleven points and nine rebounds. Lakers starting wing Cam Reddish was sidelined for the remainder of the evening due to groin discomfort that emerged after the first quarter; consequently, Max Christie filled in in his place.

The Jazz briefly increased the deficit to double figures with the onset of the second half. Davis maintained pressure on the Lakers in the low post, whereas Russell’s 16-pointer reestablished the lead and forced Utah to call a timeout.

At intermission, Los Angeles led 62-41 on account of the Jazz’s failure to impede the Lakers’ penetration into the paint and subsequent attempt at free throw scoring.

The Jazz trailed by 15 points after failing to convert a 3-pointer in the first half, but a two-three-point stretch to begin the third quarter. However, LeBron James Jr. succeeded in completing a dunk, and he and Russell attempted to ignite a Lakers surge with consecutive three-pointers.

Having assisted the Lakers with consecutive three-pointers, Rui Hachimura maintained a comfortable 102-75 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Due to the Jazz’s inability to mount an extraordinary comeback, the Lakers were able to secure the victory. In the final twenty-four minutes, James accumulated seventeen points, seven rebounds, and nine assists, while Davis amassed twenty-six points, two thefts, and sixteen rebounds. Given the Lakers are in transit to face the Dallas Mavericks in the second half of a back-to-back schedule on Wednesday, the absence of both players in the fourth quarter holds little significance.