 The Minneapolis Lakers first appeared in the Basketball Association of America -- the precursor to the NBA -- defeating the Washington Capitols 4–2.
<fluency>  The Minneapolis Lakers first appeared in the Basketball Association of America -- the precursor to the NBA -- defeating the Washington Capitols 4–2.
 The Minneapolis Lakers first appeared in the Basketball Association of America -- the precursor to the NBA — defeating the Washington Capitols 4–2.