Tyrese Haliburton acknowledged the Los Angeles Lakers deserved Saturday's in-season tournament final victory as he vowed the Indiana Pacers will bounce back with a playoff push.
Haliburton has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the inaugural in-season tournament, but he was unable to help the Pacers triumph in Las Vegas as they fell to a 123-109 defeat to the Lakers.
Haliburton finished with 20 points and 11 assists but was upstaged by Anthony Davis, who had 41 points and 20 rebounds for Los Angeles, while LeBron James added 24.
Speaking after the Pacers' defeat, Haliburton accepted the Lakers had brought a playoff-level performance and deserved to go home with the trophy.
"Yeah, we're sick, frustrated," Haliburton said. "We just got outplayed tonight from the start of the game to the end of the game.
"We just didn't do the job on loose balls, didn't rebound, didn't get enough stops when needed. They just outplayed us, and it's frustrating.
"Every team doesn't have Anthony Davis and a bunch of 6-8, 6-9 wings, so there's that, as well. It's just about understanding how different looks are going to come.
"This doesn't have a regular-season feel at all. I'm used to playing LeBron whatever he plays, 30, 35 minutes. It felt like him and AD never came off the floor. It was like a playoff-type deal."
There are still plenty of reasons for positivity in Indiana, though, with the team fifth in the Eastern Conference with a 12-8 record after winning their last three regular-season games.
Haliburton is determined to help the Pacers end their three-season playoff exile in order to enjoy more of the games that matter, adding: "Getting accustomed to that was good for me and makes me want to play some more games that have some meaning to them.
"So we have to handle the season the right way so I can get to the playoffs and feel that."
Cheltenham’s Paddy Power Cotswold Chase is the likely next stop for Datsalrightgino following his Coral Gold Cup heroics at Newbury.
Racing over a staying trip for the first time, the seven-year-old produced a brilliant performance in the hands of Gavin Sheehan to take advantage of his unexposed handicap rating and provide Lambourn-based handler Jamie Snowden with a famous local victory.
However, the handicapper has now had his say with an 11lb rise, leaving Snowden seeing a trip to Prestbury Park on Festival Trials Day (January 27) as the logical next step on the gelding’s journey.
The trainer said: “He came out of Newbury really well. He was a bit tired on Sunday and after he went out for a bit of a leg stretch, he went back to bed and had a bit of a pyjama day.
“He was quite tired afterwards but is enjoying the adulation from everyone and has been down through the village to the stream and had a bit of a splash around and then a gentle canter back, so he’s in good order.
“He’s up 11lb, which isn’t ideal, but he was fairly unexposed at that trip and the handicapper has probably had his say accordingly.
“He’s up to 159, which makes life a little bit trickier and kind of forces us into Graded company, so I would say we will end up in the Cotswold Chase, which is the obvious race to go for from here. But we will see how he is and make a plan accordingly.”
Snowden has made a bright start to what is shaping up to be a fruitful season and could have more firepower to look forward to in the new year following the arrival at Folly House of Reach For The Moon.
The one-time Derby favourite spent some time honing his craft with Henrietta Knight upon leaving John and Thady Gosden, but has recently arrived at Snowden’s base in preparation for the next stage of his career.
He added: “It’s really early days, but I’m looking forward to learning a bit more about him.”
Anthony Davis was the star of the show as the Los Angeles Lakers won the first NBA in-season tournament final on Saturday, but he put their success down to his partnership with LeBron James.
Davis recorded season highs of 41 points and 20 rebounds as the Lakers overcame the Indiana Pacers in Las Vegas to be crowned champions of the inaugural tournament, while James backed him up with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
That represented something of a role reversal from their semifinal success against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, when James scored 30 points in under three quarters on the court.
Davis is now into his fifth year playing with James – who received the tournament's first MVP prize after Saturday's win – and he says the pair enjoy an almost telepathic connection.
"We've been doing it together for a long time, five years now, and we just figure it out," Davis said of his combinations with James.
"We know each other's tendencies, what we like to do. Obviously in crunch time, we get to our infamous pick-and-roll and it's tough to stop.
"We feed off one another. Thursday, LeBron had it going. Tonight, it was me, and he still did his thing."
Saturday's game was the only one in the in-season tournament which didn't count towards the NBA's regular-season standings, but the Lakers are going well on that front too, sitting at 14-9 after winning 12 of their last 16 games.
Davis is determined to ensure the in-season tournament is not the only thing they win this season, saying: "I just try to do everything I can to win a basketball game. My team-mates put me in a great position to be successful.
"Obviously, this is special for us, just winning the inaugural in-season tournament. But we want to also win the same thing in June.
"It's a step in the right direction, obviously, but even though it's a big performance, it's another game and we've got to continue to get going, starting on Tuesday."
The Lakers face a three-game road stretch next week as they return to regular-season action, taking on the Dallas Mavericks before back-to-back games against the out-of-form San Antonio Spurs.
Bob Olinger could be seen at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, with the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle one of two possible festive options for the dual-Festival hero.
Henry de Bromhead’s eight-year-old includes Prestbury Park victories in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and Turners Novices’ Chase among his eight career triumphs but endured a winless campaign when switched back to hurdles last term.
However, to the delight of his handler, he rediscovered his best form on last month’s seasonal reappearance, travelling with his usual zest in the hands of regular pilot Rachael Blackmore before picking up well to see off the match-fit Zanahiyr at Navan.
Bob Olinger now has the option of dropping back to two miles for the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown during the Dublin track’s Christmas Festival, but is also poised to receive an entry for a New Year’s raiding mission, with Cheltenham’s Group Two contest currently at the forefront of De Bromhead’s mind.
“He’s in good form and we’ve been very happy since, it was brilliant to get him back,” said De Bromhead.
“We’re aiming towards Christmas time and he’s in at Leopardstown over two miles, but he will also have an entry in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
“I would be happy (dropping back to two miles), he has a lot of pace, loads of pace, he’s never lacked in that.
“I’m not saying we will, they are our options and I’m probably leaning towards the race at Cheltenham, but we will see how it all pans out.”
LeBron James made more NBA history as the Los Angeles Lakers became the first winners of the in-season tournament on Saturday, before declaring: "Nobody can ever top that".
The Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers 123-109 in Las Vegas to become the first team to lift the trophy, with James named the first-ever tournament MVP.
James was upstaged in the final by team-mate Anthony Davis, who recorded season highs of 41 points and 20 rebounds, though the four-time NBA MVP also played his part with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
As he continues to push the limits in his 21st season in the league, James took particular pleasure in helping the Lakers become the tournament's first winners, something which cannot be replicated.
"I don't think it's even about the MVP, it's about us coming together to win this thing," James told ESPN during the trophy presentation.
"This is the [first] in-season tournament. Records will be broken, but one thing that will never be broken is to be the first to do something.
"We're the first champions of the in-season tournament, and nobody can ever top that, and it's great to do it with a historic franchise and just a great cast of funny, engaged, competitive men."
Despite his own remarkable longevity, James hyped Davis up as the "face of the franchise" in preseason, and he ran with that tag on Saturday as the Pacers were unable to live with his monster performance.
The James-Davis partnership is now into its fifth season, and James believes the duo push each other to reach greater heights, saying: "I know who I am, he knows who he is.
"So, there's no friction. We're not trying to compete with one another on the court or on a lifestyle basis. He knows who he is, I know who I am.
"The only thing we're trying to do is hold each other accountable when we get to work and try to be the best we can be for each other, and when one is not going well, try to pick each other up.
"There's no jealousy. There's not a jealous bone in our bodies. We're never jealous of one another. Ever."
Today’s meeting at Huntingdon has been abandoned following flooding of the course last night.
The Peterborough Chase card survived inspections on Thursday and Friday but the Cambridgeshire track could not cope with further rain.
This afternoon’s fixture at Kelso was called off yesterday due to excess rainfall and areas of false ground.
That leaves Britain without a Sunday National Hunt meeting, although there will be Flat racing on Wolverhampton’s all-weather circuit.
Over in Ireland, Cork will stage a high-class jumps card featuring three Graded races, including the reappearance of El Fabiolo in the Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored just 13 seconds into overtime and the New York Islanders rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Kings on Saturday, ending Los Angeles’ NHL-record season-opening 11-game road winning streak.
The Kings led 2-0 entering the third period but Islanders captain Anders Lee scored twice, including the equaliser with 4:11 left in regulation.
Pageau beat Cam Talbot on a breakaway for his first goal in 14 home games this season.
Ilya Sorokin made 34 saves, with his best coming when he denied Adrian Kempe on a breakaway late in the third period.
New York improved to 4-0-1 in its last five games and has recorded a point in 11 of its last 12 games (7-1-4).
Kempe and Vladislav Gavrikov scored for Los Angeles, which had won three straight and eight of nine overall.
Red Wings captain Larkin injured in loss
Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was injured on a hit from behind in the first period in a 5-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators.
Larkin was face-down and motionless for about a minute after being cross-checked in the back of the head and neck by Ottawa’s Mathieu Joseph. He was eventually able to stand and was hunched over as he was assisted to the locker room.
The team released a statement during the game that Larkin was being evaluated by the medical staff.
Claude Giroux and Vladimir Tarasenko each had a goal and an assist for the Senators, who have won three of four following a three-game skid.
Patrick Kane scored his first goal with the Red Wings in his second game since joining Detroit.
Capitals spoil Laviolette’s return
Charlie Lindgren turned aside 31 shots and the Washington Capitals scored three second-period goals I a 4-0 win over the New York Rangers to spoil former coach Peter Laviolette’s return.
Sonny Milano scored in the first period and Anthony Mantha, Tom Wilson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel tallied in the second as Washington snapped a three-game skid.
Laviolette spent three seasons with the Capitals before parting ways with the team in April and joining the Rangers two months later.
New York has lost two straight for the first time this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament champions after a 41-point effort from Anthony Davis propelled the side to a 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers in the final in Las Vegas.
Davis also had 20 rebounds, while LeBron James posted 24 points and 11 rebounds to help the Lakers become the first team to lift the NBA Cup.
James, now in his 21st year in the league, added to his extensive trophy cabinet by being named In-Season Tournament MVP.
Los Angeles led for most of the game, but Indiana responded to almost every Lakers run with one of their own to keep themselves within striking distance.
That all shifted late in the fourth quarter when the Lakers turned a four-point advantage into a 16-point lead and held on from there.
Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, who had been the central figure in the Pacers’ run to the final, was targeted by the Lakers’ defence from the jump.
He was restricted to 20 points but managed to add 11 assists, while Bennedict Mathurin had 20 points off the bench.
Anthony Davis had a monster game with season highs of 41 points and 20 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers, 123-109 on Saturday in Las Vegas to win the inaugural In-Season Tournament championship.
Davis shot 16 of 24 from the field and 9 of 13 from the foul line while adding five assists and four blocks.
Austin Reaves added 28 points and tournament MVP LeBron James had 24 and 11 rebounds for Los Angeles, which didn’t put the game away until a 15-3 run late in the fourth quarter turned a 100-96 lead into a 115-99 advantage.
The game was the only one in the tournament that didn’t count in the standings, but there was still plenty at stake.
In addition to a trophy, Lakers players on standard two-way contracts each made $500,000 and the Pacers received $200,000 apiece.
Tyrese Haliburton had 20 points and 11 assists and Benedict Mathurin also scored 20 as the Pacers suffered their first tournament loss after six wins.
Shohei Ohtani has confirmed he is to join the Los Angeles Dodgers on a record-breaking contract after ending his six-year spell with the LA Angels.
The 29-year-old Japanese free agent, whose agent said he has agreed a 700million dollar (£558m) 10-year deal which would make him the highest earner in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, ended fevered speculation over his destination in a social media post on Saturday night.
The extent of the deal was revealed in a statement from his agent Nez Balelo, which described it as a “unique, historic contract for a unique, historic player”.
While the Dodgers have not made an official statement, their website carried headlines saying it was “Sho Time” and describing the deal as a “700m stunner”. MLB posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “Hollywood just added another star”.
Ohtani is unusual in that he plays as a pitcher and a hitter, becoming regarded as one of the best in the game on both sides of the ball since his Angels debut in 2018.
He won his second American League MVP award in 2023, despite an elbow injury which curtailed his season and will prevent him from pitching in 2024.
Ohtani wrote on his official Instagram account: “To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision. I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team.
View this post on Instagram
“First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved with the Angels organization and the fans who have supported me over the past six years, as well as to everyone involved with each team that was part of this negotiation process.
“Especially to the Angels fans who supported me through all the ups and downs, your guys’ support and cheer meant the world to me. The six years I spent with the Angels will remain etched in my heart forever.
“And to all Dodgers fans, I pledge to always do what’s best for the team and always continue to give it my all to be the best version of myself.
“Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to strive forward not only for the Dodgers, but for the baseball world.”
The previous record contract in MLB was the 426.5m (£340m) the Angels paid to outfielder Mike Trout as part of a 12-year deal in 2019.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year 450m (£359m) extension, agreed in September, was the previous highest in US sports.
Shohei Ohtani has confirmed he is to join the Los Angeles Dodgers on what is reportedly a record-breaking contract after ending his six-year spell with the LA Angels.
The 29-year-old Japanese free agent, who is said to have agreed a 700million US dollars (£558m) 10-year deal which would make him the highest earner in major league baseball history, ended fevered speculation over his destination in a social media post on Saturday night.
Ohtani, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player, wrote on his official Instagram account: “To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision. I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team.
View this post on Instagram
“First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone involved with the Angels organization and the fans who have supported me over the past six years, as well as to everyone involved with each team that was part of this negotiation process.
“Especially to the Angels fans who supported me through all the ups and downs, your guys’ support and cheer meant the world to me. The six years I spent with the Angels will remain etched in my heart forever.
“And to all Dodgers fans, I pledge to always do what’s best for the team and always continue to give it my all to be the best version of myself.
“Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to strive forward not only for the Dodgers, but for the baseball world.”
Free agent Shohei Ohtani is signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-way star announced Saturday on Instagram.
His contract will be worth $700million over 10 seasons, multiple media outlets reported.
Ohtani’s post was simply a large image of the Dodgers’ logo with a caption posted in English.
“To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision,” the caption began. “I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team.”
The announcement came a day after erroneous reports that Ohtani flew to Toronto on Friday. The private jet that was incorrectly reported to have Ohtani onboard actually belonged to “Shark Tank” star Robert Herjavec.
After spending six seasons in Anaheim with the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani will now call Dodger Stadium home after signing the most lucrative contract in North American sports history.
Patrick Mahomes, of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, previously held the record with a contract totalling $450million, but parts of that deal were not guaranteed.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt was placed in concussion protocol after the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year reported symptoms on Friday.
Watt played 51 of Pittsburgh’s 57 defensive snaps in Thursday’s 21-18 loss to the New England Patriots.
The five-time Pro Bowler inadvertently had his facemask collide with Patriot running back Ezekiel Elliott’s knee in the first quarter, and Watt was evaluated briefly on the sideline before returning.
Watt’s 14 sacks this season trail only Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers, who has 15.
Alex Highsmith, who emerged as a standout edge-rushing complement to Watt with 14.5 sacks last season, missed most of Thursday’s game after going into concussion protocol in the first half.
Inside linebackers Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb are already out for the year.
Veteran Markus Golden and rookie Nick Herbig are projected to be the starting edge-rushing combination in next Saturday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts if Watt and Highsmith remain in protocol.
Watt is a three-time All-Pro selection with 91.5 sacks and 189 quarterback hits in 100 career games.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr believes his team are good enough to win the NBA championship, but only if they cut out the kind of errors which cost them against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
The Warriors slumped to 10-12 as they finished on the wrong side of a thrilling contest at Paycom Center, losing 138-136 in overtime.
Golden State led 62-56 at halftime before the Thunder rallied, with Stephen Curry – who finished with a team-high 34 points – making a series of big shots to keep them in the game past regulation.
From there, however, mistakes cost the Warriors as the Thunder scored eight points off four turnovers in the extra period, winning it when Chet Holmgren fed Luguentz Dort for a decisive layup.
Kerr's team have now lost their last five road games, the last three of those defeats coming by a combined margin of four points, and he knows errors are contributing to them finishing on the wrong side of the fine margins.
"We're good enough to win a championship," Kerr said after the game. "With this team. I believe that.
"But if we are just going to turn it over and throw the ball to the other team and foul over and over, then we're going to lose."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 38 points for the Thunder, and despite the Warriors enduring an inconsistent campaign, he believes the way they fought back against the 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022 NBA champions was something of a statement.
"We've got a bunch of competitors on the team, guys that don't back down, guys that want to be great," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
"We all know that to be great, you've got to test yourself against the great.
"Obviously, that's a dynasty that came in here today, and there's been multiple games like that this year. When we play the best of the best, we rise to the challenge."
Victor Wembanyama vowed the San Antonio Spurs will continue looking for "a good recipe" after his historic performance failed to prevent his team matching their franchise-record losing run.
At 19 years and 38 days old, the first overall draft pick became the youngest player in NBA history to post a 20-20 game, managing 21 points and 20 assists at home to the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
However, that performance was not enough to prevent a 121-112 defeat as the Bulls rallied after the interval, with Patrick Williams, Demar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Coby White all managing 20 points or more for Chicago.
San Antonio has now tied their all-time record losing streak of 16 games, while their 3-18 record is the worst they have ever managed through 21 games of a season.
Wembanyama – whose 20-20 game came when he was four days younger than previous record holder Dwight Howard – says it is still a case of trial and error after he starred from the center position against the Bulls.
"Experimenting in different areas of the game is always something important and interesting to me," Wembanyama said.
"Every game is different, but we're going to see and try until we find a good recipe.
"When our opponents are down at half, of course they're going to try and have a reaction. We've got to expect that every time, because our first half was pretty solid, especially defensively.
"There are ups and downs during the game, but we've got to get our downs less and less."
San Antonio's losing steak still stands three games short of that being endured by the Detroit Pistons, who are 2-20 after going down by a 123-91 scoreline against the Orlando Magic, their 19th straight loss.
Franz Wagner scored 27 points and Paolo Banchero added 24 for Orlando, with the Pistons now enduring the longest single-season losing streak in their franchise history and their second-longest overall.
Detroit previously lost 21 in a row across the end of the 1979-80 season and the start of 1980-81.
Though Pistons coach Monty Williams acknowledged the 15-7 Magic are a tough nut to crack defensively, he wasn't happy with his team's offensive efforts.
"They're a good defensive team but we missed a lot of open shots," Williams said after the defeat.
"They take away the paint, force you to play outside. We generated only 30 threes and just didn't hit a good percentage. We just had a hard time putting the ball in the basket tonight."
Christmas arrived early for Nicky Henderson at Sandown as Jonbon joined some of the Seven Barrows greats on the Tingle Creek roll of honour and provide a joyous end to a testing few days for the trainer.
It looked like Henderson could have been featuring in his own nightmare before Christmas as a wet week and heavy downpours over night at the Esher track scuppered plans to run some of his finest operators in the rearranged Fighting Fifth.
Constitution Hill, Shishkin and hot novice prospect Willmount were all erased from the Seven Barrows team sheet before the horsebox departed Lambourn on Saturday morning, but the great white hope to save the day was Jonbon as he returned to the scene of his coming of age Celebration Chase success hoping to add to his Grade One haul.
Jonbon far from dazzled in the Sandown slop, but proved he is developing into the consummate professional to give his handler some temporary relief.
“It’s been a very tough weekend to be honest and heart-breaking really,” said Henderson.
“Of course we wanted to run them, I wanted Shishkin to run, I wanted Constitution Hill to run and I was looking forward to Willmount in the first. It’s very disappointing.
“It’s nice to get that one put away and he can rest up now, it takes the pressure off.
“When you are 100-30 on you are pleased when it’s over, but he is very good.”
Henderson can now look forward to the second half of the campaign with Jonbon who has finally removed any thoughts of moving up in distance.
The Champion Chase is the plan and El Fabiolo is the target and all at Seven Barrows will now be focussed on downing their Arkle conqueror when they meet for a third time in March.
“You can’t take anything away from El Fabiolo and we have a bit to find,” continued Henderson.
“We did beat him a neck at Aintree in a Grade One hurdle the year before. It’s 1-1 and all to play for and we will be watching him carefully tomorrow no doubt.
“It’s their turn to have a little sweat and then we will plan the second half of the campaign.
“I can’t see that they will meet along the way and I don’t think we will be going to Ireland put it like that. I’m rather hoping that Willie (Mullins) will play the same game as us and we will get ready for a match in March.
“There was a time last year I thought he wanted further, but to be fair, ever since then all he’s done is show us he is a two-miler so I think we have to stick to that plan.”
For Constitution Hill and Shishkin, both will now head to their respective Boxing Day targets without a run this season, with Henderson hoping the racing public will understand why National Hunt’s flagship name will remain under lock and key until Kempton.
He added: “I think we have done the right thing and it may be disappointing for other people. But if Sandown people couldn’t see them then I’m sorry, but the Kempton people hopefully will see them.
“We had to make very difficult decisions last night, regrettably, but I think everybody has appreciated the reasoning.
“One thing you can’t do is come here and Kempton on Boxing Day. One of them had to be sacrificed for the other. No way is a horse going to come back from a race in this ground in 16 days, so they stayed at home and we hope for nicer ground at Kempton and hopefully they will both be there.”
Constitution Hill’s bombproof nature may make the Christmas Hurdle a simple formality on his return to action, but the master of Seven Barrows has always been concerned about the prospect of Shishkin contesting the King George VI Chase without a prep run.
However, time has now run out with Henderson left with no option but to head to Sunbury the day after Christmas and pray the enigmatic nine-year-old does not repeat the Ascot antics that saw him left at the start in a stubborn fit of petulance.
“We’ve said the whole way through that I can’t see how you can win the King George first time out,” explained Henderson.
“Now what do we do? Where can we go? I’m not going to go back to hurdles again or even think about it, he will almost certainly run in the King George.
“It’s quite an open King Gorge, but it doesn’t invite itself as a race for first-time outers. That start at Ascot was a catastrophe really. Not only did it cost him a run in a valuable race, but it has cost him his whole prep as well. With the weather we are where we are and we can’t do anything about it.
“The most important thing was to get a run into him because he can be a stroppy devil at home, but once you get a run into him he suddenly comes into our hands and we are in control. Maybe you will see me at the start? Although they tell me I’m not allowed to!”
LeBron James was Tyrese Hailburton's favourite player growing up, and Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham knows his team must keep the Indiana Pacers star under lock and key.
The Lakers face the Pacers in the final of the inaugural in-season tournament in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Indiana overcame the Milwaukee Bucks to progress to the showpiece game, with 23-year-old point guard Hailburton finishing with 27 points and 15 assists.
Hailburton has impressed all season, averaging 26.9 points per game, and now gets a chance to face off against one of his childhood heroes in the form of Lakers star James, who was in fine form against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
"Like any kid born in 2000, LeBron was my favourite player growing up," Haliburton said. "And it's hard for him not to be for a lot of us.
"Growing up, I was a Cavs fan, then a Heat fan, then a Cavs fan again, then a Lakers fan before I got drafted. It's just how it went.
"To be able to compete against him in a championship is kind of like a storybook [ending] a little bit, and it's going to be a lot of fun.
"But that's the great part about being in the NBA, getting to compete against your idols on a nightly basis. I really look forward to that."
James might be Hailburton's idol, but Lakers coach Ham knows his team must find a way to keep the Pacers' talisman down.
"He's sneaky athletic. He has length to him, and his vision is incredible," Ham said.
"I mean, the things he's able to do with the basketball, the way he sets up his teammates, looks off defenders, the way he pushes the pace in transition, he's constantly in attack mode.
"I think they've got a jewel, man."
Hailburton made his first All-Star appearance last season, though the Pacers have missed out on the playoffs in the last four campaigns.
"LeBron James is in his prime still," Pacers coach Ricky Carlisle noted.
"I'm watching the guy last night, and it's phenomenal. He's the only player in NBA history who has been the youngest player in the league and the oldest player in the league, both. That speaks to obviously an amazing run of longevity and, in his case, greatness.
"He's the all-time leading scorer, and if there's a Mount Rushmore, he's one of the guys on the NBA Mount Rushmore.
"That's what we're up against tomorrow. We're up against him and Anthony Davis and a lot of other very good players that are on a real uptick right now competitively.
"We've got our hands full. But if you're the Indiana Pacers and you're in the process of making the climb and you want great experience, this is the kind of challenge that you've got to love."
Ham added: "We've just got to be ready for a little bit of everything, but we can't get so caught up in trying to stop and prevent them from doing what they like to do.
"We will, but we also can't forget to enforce our will upon the game, too. They have to guard us, too."
Gordon Elliott continued in red-hot form with four winners at Navan.
The day started on the right note as Jigoro landed the Mervyn Gray Construction Maiden Hurdle under Jack Kennedy at 5-2, a convincing victory after making the running on his second start over hurdles.
The French-bred four-year-old is owned by Bective Stud and finished nine lengths ahead of Tom Coopers’ Butcher Hollow.
“It was a good performance and we knew he had improved plenty from the first day,” said Elliott.
“Obviously there was a lot of talk about Tom Cooper’s horse and I thought it was a good performance.
“Jack was delighted with him and said he’ll stay further. He said a faster gallop would have suited him but he was very happy with the run.
“He could go for the four-year-old hurdle at Limerick over Christmas.”
Caldwell Potter then provided another wide-margin success for the stable when landing the Headfort Arms Hotel Maiden Hurdle by seven lengths under Kennedy.
The grey is a full brother to the late Grade One winner Mighty Potter and was second on his hurdles debut last time out at Punchestown.
“He was a weak horse but he’s got a lot stronger,” Elliott said of the 8-13 favourite.
“We’ll try and keep it small with him if we can. He’s a chaser in the making, he’s a brother to Mighty Potter.”
There was a pause in the Elliott dominance as Henry de Bromhead took the Tote Navan Novice Hurdle with Slade Steel and Willie Mullins won the Listed Bective Stud, Tea Rooms & Apartments Handicap Hurdle with We’llhavewan – a seven-length winner at 10-1 under Paul Townend.
Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father Willie, said: “We weren’t sure about the ground but we stuck cheekpieces on him and we were getting in with a light weight.
“It was great prize-money so we took our chance and it’s brilliant. It’s a brilliant pot.
“He’s rated lower over fences but he didn’t jump fantastic over fences before. Paul came in there and said he might be better now so we might look at something over fences next.”
The Mullins team also took the Durnin Workshop Beginners Chase with Indiana Dream, a 13-length winner under Mark Walsh at 5-2.
Elliott was back in the prizes in the Listed Foxrock Handicap Chase, where Embittered defied odds of 16-1 to score by nine lengths under conditional rider Carl Millar.
“He won well and it was a nice pot,” said the trainer.
“He had nice run the last day in Cork, we were delighted with it, and he did it well there today. Carl is good value for 7lb.
“I’ve no real plan for him, we’ll try and find something similar.”
The final event of the day was also claimed by Elliott, though this time he was fraternising with the enemy somewhat as Patrick Mullins took the ride on My Trump Card in the Timeless Sash Windows INH Flat Race and won by nine lengths as the 30-100 favourite.
“He’s a lovely big galloping horse, a smashing horse, and he’s a horse for the future.
“He’ll go jumping now. He improved plenty from the last day, in fairness, so we’re delighted.
“It looked like a winnable race. We had another horse to run but he didn’t work as well as I thought he would the other day.
“He could maybe run again over hurdles at Christmas.”
Chambard had to be very tough to land Aintree’s Boylesports Becher Handicap Chase and help amateur rider Lucy Turner the become first woman to win the famous race.
Venetia Williams’ 11-year-old was among the lesser-fancied of the 12 runners over the Grand National fences as heavy ground guaranteed the event was going to be a real test of stamina.
Under Turner the bay never looked to struggle with the conditions, however, jumping soundly at the head of the field with Laura Morgan’s Percussion for company.
Gradually the going took its toll on the field and plenty of horses were pulled up at the rear of the pack as Chambard still travelled happily at the front and was eventually left well clear to canter to a 13-length success at 18-1 over top weight Coko Beach
Turner said: “Chambard has been fantastic for me won the Kim Muir at Cheltenham also), and I am so pleased for David and Carol (Shaw, owners), who have been great supporters of mine over the last few years, so it is nice to get another big one for them.
“He hasn’t jumped these fences before, so we said we’d see how he takes to them, but that was the best spin I’ve ever had round there and he just loved it and kept galloping.
“As soon as they came to him, he quickened again. I could sort of hear the others coming, but he’s gone again, and at the last he was like a fresh horse.
“I’ve always wanted to ride a winner over these fences, so to do it on him means the world.
“It was a little bit hard going trying to see coming into the home straight with all the rain coming down and the headwind, but he was a total professional. I think he surprises people. They think, ‘can he go and do that?’ but then he shows them he can.
“This is probably the best day I’ve ever had in racing. Aintree is such a marvellous place, so to have a winner here is fantastic. April (and the Grand National) is a long way away and we will think about that when the time comes, but this is a dream.
“In the final furlong you just want to keep kicking until you are over the line, but I had a little look at the big screen and I could see we were clear. After the line, I was thinking, ‘has that actually just happened?’
“If I can inspire someone from the next generation by winning here today, that’s wonderful.
“Chambard is a lovely horse. He’s very laid back and always has a smile on his face, as you can see – he’s always got his teeth out – and he’s a real yard favourite.”
Owner David Shaw, who lives in Cheshire, said: “We’ve been lucky enough to have a few winners with Venetia – we thought Cheltenham was the pinnacle, but this gets pretty close to that. We love having Lucy on board!”
Nigel Twiston-Davies had a good day with two winners across the card, firstly with Norman Fletcher as he took the Boylesports Money Back 2nd Meeting Novices’ Hurdle under the trainer’s son Sam.
An 11-4 chance after winning at Market Rasen last time out, the four-year-old continued on an upward trajectory with a three-and-three-quarter-length victory.
“Although you wouldn’t see it today on heavy ground, he’s got a lot of pace,” Sam Twiston-Davies said.
“I don’t know what the handicapper will do but in a 0-120, two-mile handicap hurdle somewhere on nice ground, he’d be hard to beat, I think.”
Zambella was then a second winner for the team, landing the rearranged Boylesports Houghton Mares’ Chase, a Listed race, by an easy 17 lengths as the evens favourite under Daryl Jacob.
The mare is a twelve-time winner and clearly a real favourite for all connections, who are planning her season around a possible trip to the breeding shed later on in the term.
“She’s an absolute queen, isn’t she?” said Jacob, wearing the colours of owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
“She’s the apple of our eye as far as mares are concerned. She turns up every year, she runs her heart out, she gives everything that she has.
“Nigel and his team have done a great job, and with the race being rearranged, it actually suits her better here, going left-handed. I was delighted again when the rain came. She’s such a wonderful, honest thing and tried very hard.”
Anthony Bromley, racing manager to the owners, said: “She just loves it. She seems in as good form as ever. It’s an easily mapped out route, all being well – she’ll go to Doncaster at Christmas, then there’s Huntingdon. She’s not quite as good at Huntingdon, but there’s a valuable race there in early February.”
Donald McCain’s Richmond Lake survived a mistake at the last to land the Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase at 4-1 under Brian Hughes.
“We got away with it,” McCain said.
“This was the plan – we just wanted to get a blow into him at Wetherby, and it worked out better than we thought. My assistant Adrian (Lane) rides him every day, he shows nothing at home, nothing. But he’s a good little racehorse.”
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