The NBA In-Season Tournament has been an accidental godsend for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers have trudged through injuries, cold shooting/middling offense, and a hectic schedule. Whether it's the allure of $500,000 and/or a Las Vegas excursion, or a reflection of the unexpectedly easy West Group A, the Lakers have flipped a switch in tournament games.

In 17 plain ol' regular season contests, Darvin Ham's squad is 8-9 and has been outscored by 94 points. On tourney nights, they're 4-0 with a +74 scoring margin. Amidst the overall ricketiness, the largely stress-free wins on the “funky“-colored courts have provided timely encouragement and positive vibes for the Lakers.

“I think it's an incentive, for sure,” said LeBron James. “We know what's at stake. So, it's been good for us so far.”

Now, though, is when the real In-Season Tournament basketball begins. Everybody knows that.

On Tuesday, the Lakers host the Phoenix Suns (12-8) in the quarterfinals on the bright yellow hardwood of Crypto.com Arena. Unlike in their two previous meetings — both tight Lakers wins — Devin Booker will be available. The Lakers, meanwhile, enjoyed 13 active players for the first time in Saturday's win over the Houston Rockets. It showed.

The Lakers have struggled with point-of-attack defense — and nobody can stop Booker or Kevin Durant, anyway. At the very least, though, the Lakers should be better equipped to pester the dynamic duo thanks to the emergence of Max Christie and the returns of Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura.

The case for the Lakers winning the inaugural NBA Cup is based on mindset more than matchup. Every team remaining in the draw is playoff-caliber. If the Lakers advance, they'll face the New Orleans Pelicans (12-10) on Thursday, then either the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, or New York Knicks in the championship on Dec. 9. Los Angeles is 4-8 vs. teams with winning records this season.

The Lakers can be credibly accused of treading water through 21 games. Trades are likely on the horizon, injuries have rendered chemistry-building partially moot, and the schedule has presented constant obstacles. The Lakers have mentally thrown in the towel on more than one occasion (especially amid back-to-backs or extended road trips). Ultimately, the Lakers know that LeBron and Anthony Davis' form in five months will determine their contender status. They've moseyed along — perking up for the occasional tourney showdown. If nothing else, they'll be well-rested and energized for Phoenix and Vegas.

Another thing working in the Lakers' favor: crunchtime execution. In games that involve “clutch” situations — within five points with under five minutes to go, per NBA.com — the Lakers are 6-3. This is primarily due to LeBron's ability to orchestrate action in tight moments, although the 38-year-old leads the league in clutch field goals, as well. If the IST Knockout Round presents close ballgames, the Lakers should have the edge.

If Los Angeles topples Phoenix, they'll joyously hit the desert — thereby offering LeBron another high-profile platform from which to tout his future expansion franchise. More importantly, they'll be able to test their progress in an elevated, difficult setting.

As of Monday,  the Lakers — the top seed in the West — are +600 to win medals. If they can secure the bag, the question then becomes: Do they raise a banner?