LOS ANGELES – It’s hard for all NBA teams to raise their level of competition regularly, especially during the early part of an 82-game season.

The NBA’s solution was to create an in-season tournament, adding some financial incentives and a competition that concluded in Las Vegas, crowning an NBA Cup champion. Through three years, it’s delivered on the promise of better early regular-season action.

The Lakers dominated the inaugural tournament in 2023 and the Thunder put the whole league on notice last season. The story of the 2025 NBA Cup is still being told, but one thing is clear: the Lakers will have something to say about how it ends.

On Tuesday, the Lakers beat the Clippers, 135-118, to remain perfect in the NBA Cup and punch their ticket to the quarterfinals.

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