The NBA Cup knockout rounds have a contemporary look this season. Six of the eight groups that superior from group play are totally different from the quarterfinal qualifiers in final 12 months’s inaugural occasion.
Solely the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks are repeat contributors within the quarterfinal bracket.
Milwaukee is the No. 1 seed within the Jap Convention after profitable Group B, whereas New York is seeded second within the East after taking Group A. They’re the one two groups within the league that went 4-0 in group play within the 2024 Cup.
The opposite two qualifiers within the East are the Atlanta Hawks, who gained Group C and earned the No. 3 seed, and the East’s lone wild-card entry, the Orlando Magic. The Hawks will go to the Knicks on Dec. 11, whereas the Magic will journey to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on Dec. 10.
“We earned our option to the quarterfinal,” Orlando ahead Franz Wagner mentioned after he scored 30 factors, however his crew misplaced to the Knicks on Tuesday however nonetheless superior because of level differential. “Clearly not our greatest sport at the moment, however that is why you play each minute within the different video games. It feels bizarre even after a sport like this to advance, however yeah, that is simply a part of it.”
Whereas the Magic proceed to play with out standout ahead Paolo Banchero (indirect), the Bucks have jumped on the backs of Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard en path to seven straight wins. The duo mixed for 55 factors Tuesday of their Group B-clinching win over the Detroit Pistons.
“They put a event in entrance of us, and we wish to win it,” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers mentioned of the profitable occasion through which gamers on the profitable crew will take residence greater than $500,000 every.
Within the West, star energy stacks the quarterfinals as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder will host Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 10. Oklahoma Metropolis earned the No. 1 seed within the West after pounding the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, whereas the fourth-seeded Mavericks superior on level differential after sneaking previous the Memphis Grizzlies of their remaining matchup in group play.
The opposite two entries within the Western Convention knockout spherical are the second-seeded Houston Rockets, who gained Group B, and the third-seeded Golden State Warriors, winners of Group C. Steph Curry and the Warriors will go to Houston on Dec. 11.
Due to a scheduling quirk, the Warriors and Rockets may even meet in Houston on Thursday, when Golden State will probably be trying to snap a five-game dropping streak and start producing momentum for the NBA Cup knockout spherical.
“We’re not closing, we’re not executing, we’re not making good selections,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned after Tuesday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets. “That’s acquired to enhance.”
Then again, surging groups just like the Thunder (5-1 of their final six video games) are hoping to remain sizzling between now and the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
“I wasn’t (taking note of the NBA Cup standings) in any respect till I knew we have been going to win tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned after Tuesday’s win. “I simply requested round, however it’s all too complicated. I simply win after which we see the place we find yourself.”
The 4 groups that win within the quarterfinals will advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas on Dec. 14. The championship will happen Dec. 17, additionally in Las Vegas. All NBA Cup video games performed up to now, together with the upcoming quarterfinals and semifinals, will depend as regular-season video games. Solely the NBA Cup championship doesn’t depend towards regular-season standings and stats.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who gained the inaugural 2023 occasion, have been eradicated after dropping twice final week.
