Ayton’s Late-Game Confusion Highlights NBA Cup’s Still-Evolving Rules

The NBA Cup has quickly become one of the league’s most visible innovations, adding competitive stakes to regular-season games since its introduction in 2023. Designed to energize early-season matchups, the tournament has grown into a fixture that players and teams take increasingly seriously. Yet even as the event becomes a staple, confusion around its tiebreaker rules occasionally lingers across the league.

That uncertainty surfaced again Friday night in Los Angeles. With the Lakers holding a comfortable lead over the New Orleans Pelicans, center DeAndre Ayton found himself debating whether to take a late shot near the basket. Traditional basketball etiquette discourages piling on points in a decided game, but the NBA Cup’s point-differential formula changes the calculus.

Ayton, unsure of how aggressively he needed to play in the closing moments, ultimately had to be reminded by teammate Marcus Smart that scoring still mattered. The exchange underscored how the tournament’s format — especially the role of point differential in determining group standings — remains a learning curve for some players.

Afterward, Ayton acknowledged that he was still wrapping his head around the rules, even as he delivered one of his strongest performances since arriving in Los Angeles.

1. The Moment of Confusion

Late in the contest, Ayton found himself alone near the rim with roughly 30 seconds remaining. Given the Lakers’ sizeable lead, he initially hesitated, choosing not to take what would typically be considered an unnecessary bucket. That hesitation reflected the unspoken expectation in most NBA games that teams should not run up scores once the outcome is secure. But the NBA Cup’s format functions differently. When Smart urged Ayton to finish the play, he reminded him that point differential — not just wins — could determine whether the Lakers advance out of group play. The brief courtside moment highlighted how the competitive framework of the tournament occasionally clashes with long-standing basketball norms. Speaking after the game, Ayton said the situation caught him off guard. He explained that he was simply focused on closing out the win and avoiding any appearance of disrespect toward the Pelicans or their head coach Willie Green. The need to consider tournament tiebreakers was not top of mind in the moment. The incident added another example to the league’s ongoing adjustment to the NBA Cup and its strategic quirks.

2. Understanding the NBA Cup Tiebreaker System

The league’s in-season competition is built around group play, where teams advance based on win-loss records — and, if necessary, tiebreakers. Point differential is the most important of those tiebreakers, meaning every possession can affect a team’s path forward. For the Lakers, that made the closing seconds of the game meaningful, despite holding a decisive lead. If Los Angeles ends group play tied with another team, the combined margin of victory becomes the separating factor. The structure pushes teams to remain aggressive until the final buzzer, a dynamic that has taken time for players to fully integrate into instinct. The added strategic layer is partly why coaches and teammates frequently communicate reminders like the one Smart gave Ayton. It also reflects how the NBA Cup continues to evolve as players adapt to the balance between sportsmanship and competitive necessity. As the tournament gains more traction, moments like this may become less common. For now, they serve as reminders that the NBA is still in the early stages of normalizing its new in-season championship model.

3. Ayton Shines as Lakers Pursue Another Title Run

Aside from the brief confusion, Ayton delivered one of his strongest outings of the season. The Lakers center finished with 20 points, 16 rebounds, two steals and a block, anchoring both the offense and the interior defense. His impact was felt throughout the night as Los Angeles maintained control and pulled away late. The Lakers’ performance suggested a renewed focus on reclaiming the NBA Cup trophy. After winning the inaugural tournament — then known as the In-Season Tournament — Los Angeles fell short last year. This season, the team appears intent on returning to championship form within the Cup’s unique structure. Ayton’s adjustment to the Lakers continues to progress, and his strong outing could signal a growing comfort within the system. His learning moment regarding the tiebreaker rules seemed to come with quick humor and understanding, indicating he’s unlikely to hesitate the next time a late-game scenario arises. For the Lakers, every point could matter, and the team’s pursuit of a second NBA Cup title may hinge on attention to details just like this one.