In the NBA Mid-Season Cup game where the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 118-104, Ayton, who scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, passed up an easy scoring opportunity in the final moments. After the game, he apologized for not understanding the Mid-Season Cup scoring rules.
“I was a little confused. I didn’t even know. I was thinking, ‘Look, man. I just want to win and get out of here. I really don’t want to shoot because that’s Pelicans’ coach, Willie Green. I really don’t want to kick them when they’re down. We’re just trying to win, right? What does the score matter?’” Ayton said.
The Pelicans scored four points in the final 30 seconds, and Ayton only learned about the scoring rules after the game.
“Oh, so that’s why Marcus Smart was staring at me like that, like he was saying, ‘Score, DA!’”
“I messed up. I messed up. Oh, no wonder. I messed up. Oh, this is bad, this is bad.”
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