-
ESPN
Dec 4, 2024, 01:28 AM ET
The NBA Cup quarterfinals are set. All eyes flip to subsequent Tuesday and Wednesday for the primary spherical of knockout video games to see which 4 groups will transfer on to the semifinals in Las Vegas.
After an thrilling slate of video games Tuesday that was stuffed with a number of playoff clinching situations and level differential potentialities, 4 groups have emerged from every convention and can look to increase their run within the NBA’s second version of the in-season match.
Within the East, the Atlanta Hawks (East Group C winners) tackle the New York Knicks (East Group A winners) and the Orlando Magic (East wild card) face the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks (East Group B winners).
Within the West, the Dallas Mavericks (West wild card) clinched a last-second spot after Tuesday’s slate of video games and can face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (West Group B Winners) subsequent week. The Golden State Warriors (West Group C winners) will tackle the Houston Rockets (West Group A winners).
EASTERN CONFERENCE quarterfinals:
(3) Atlanta Hawks at (2) New York Knicks
(4) Orlando Magic at (1) Milwaukee Bucks
WESTERN CONFERENCE quarterfinals:
(4) Dallas Mavericks at (1) Oklahoma City Thunder
(3) Golden State Warriors at (2) Houston Rockets
As group play involves an in depth, let’s recap the most important moments from Tuesday’s slate of video games and break down how groups reached the quarterfinals.
Leap to a bit:
Takeaways | Schedule | FAQ
East bracket
The New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks clinched East Teams A and B, respectively, Tuesday evening, bringing the Jap Convention half of the knockout spherical of the NBA Cup into focus.
New York will probably be internet hosting the Atlanta Hawks in a single quarterfinal matchup, with the Bucks and Orlando Magic going through off within the different.
It briefly regarded as if the Knicks may throw issues into chaos once they led by as many as 37 factors within the third quarter — which might’ve been sufficient to remove Orlando, and permit the Boston Celtics to advance because the wild card. However Orlando outscored the New York by 16 within the fourth quarter to make the 121-106 ultimate rating look respectable, and lock the Knicks right into a showdown with Trae Young and the Hawks.
Atlanta, which gained Group C after beating the Celtics in Boston with Younger sidelined, will now give Younger one other alternative to take down the Knicks on a giant stage. In 2021, Younger led the Hawks to a five-game victory within the first spherical of the playoffs over New York, together with successful two video games at Madison Sq. Backyard.
1:44
Giannis’ near-perfect nights powers Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo drops 28 factors on 10-of-11 capturing because the Bucks take down the Pistons 128-107.
Milwaukee, in the meantime, continued its current resurgence with a blowout win over the Detroit Pistons, which might’ve superior if they’d gained. As a substitute, the Bucks are again within the quarterfinals for a second straight season, and can host the Magic — who ought to nonetheless be with out star Paolo Banchero — for a shot at advancing to Las Vegas.
The opposite three groups to make it to the semifinals final season — the Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans and the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers — all did not advance to the quarterfinals this season. — Tim Bontemps
West bracket
The West quarterfinals of the NBA Cup function 4 newcomers to the knockout stage of the match as none of final season’s 4 quarterfinalists return. The West area additionally boasts two of final season’s high three finishers for MVP (Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) plus two-time MVP Stephen Curry.
I significantly like that each quarterfinals matchups pit an up-and-coming staff in opposition to a extra established energy. The highest-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, who weren’t assured a spot within the bracket till the Phoenix Suns beat the San Antonio Spurs later Tuesday, will host the Dallas Mavericks in a rematch of final season’s six-game convention semifinals.
Within the different matchup, the Houston Rockets — who final reached the NBA playoffs within the 2020 bubble — will host Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Houston has an opportunity to be this season’s model of the Indiana Pacers, who parlayed their journey to the inaugural NBA Cup ultimate coming off a number of seasons within the draft lottery right into a run to the Jap Convention finals. — Kevin Pelton
1:27
Luka Doncic shines with 37 factors in Mavs’ comeback win
Luka Doncic drops 37 factors and propels the Mavericks to a come-from-behind victory in opposition to the Grizzlies.
2024 Emirates NBA Cup schedule
All instances ET
Quarterfinals, Dec. 10
Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Quarterfinals, Dec. 11
Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Dec. 14
Semifinals 1, 4:30 p.m. (TNT)
Semifinals 2, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Dec. 17
Championship, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)
Earlier group stage outcomes
Nov. 12
Hawks 117, Celtics 116
Magic 114, Hornets 89
Pistons 123, Heat 121 (OT)
Knicks 111, 76ers 99
Bucks 99, Raptors 85
Suns 120, Jazz 112
Trail Blazers 122, Timberwolves 108
Warriors 120, Mavericks 117
Nov. 15
Heat 124, Pacers 111
Magic 98, 76ers 86
Pistons 99, Raptors 95
Lakers 120, Spurs 115
Hawks 129, Wizards 117
Cavaliers 144, Bulls 126
Pelicans 101, Nuggets 94
Knicks 124, Nets 122
Rockets 125, Clippers 104
Thunder 99, Suns 83
Timberwolves 130, Kings 126 (OT)
Warriors 123, Grizzlies 118
Nov. 19
Celtics 120, Cavaliers 117
Nets 116, Hornets 115
Nuggets 122, Grizzlies 110
Mavericks 132, Pelicans 91
Spurs 110, Thunder 110
Lakers 124, Jazz 118
Nov. 22
76ers 113, Nets 98
Celtics 108, Wizards 96
Warriors 112, Pelicans 108
Bucks 129, Pacers 117
Bulls 136, Hawks 122
Rockets 116, Trail Blazers 88
Mavericks 123, Nuggets 120
Clippers 108, Kings 88
Nov. 26
Bulls 127, Wizards 108
Bucks 106, Heat 103
Rockets 117, Timberwolves 111 (OT)
Spurs 128, Jazz 115
Suns 127, Lakers 100
Nov. 29
Knicks 99, Hornets 98
Hawks 117, Cavaliers 101
Grizzlies 120, Pelicans 109
Timberwolves 93, Clippers 92
Magic 123, Nets 100
Pistons 130, Pacers 106
Heat 121, Raptors 111
Celtics 138, Bulls 129
Thunder 101, Lakers 93
Trail Blazers 115, Kings 106
Dec. 3
76ers 110, Hornets 104
Cavaliers 118, Wizards 87
Bucks 128, Pistons 107
Knicks 121, Magic 106
Raptors 122, Pacers 111
Thunder 133, Jazz 106.
Mavericks 121, Grizzlies 116
Suns 104, Spurs 93
Nuggets 119, Warriors 115
Kings 120, Rockets 111
Clippers 127, Trail Blazers 105
FAQ (by Tim Bontemps)
The NBA unveiled the six teams for the second version of its in-season match — now known as the Emirates NBA Cup. This is a take a look at the whole lot you may have to know concerning the return of the competitors.
What’s the format?
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has had a long-standing fascination with European soccer. The concept for having an in-season cup competitors inside the NBA schedule comes from soccer leagues having each a regular-season title, gained by the staff with essentially the most factors over the total 12 months, and a separate match (or, in some leagues, a number of tournaments) that runs concurrently with the league season.
In England, for instance, there are the varied divisions — led by the Premier League — and in addition the FA Cup competitors. However in contrast to these European leagues, which play their cup competitions exterior of their league schedules, the NBA Cup is constructed into the regular-season slate.
The 30 NBA groups have been break up into six five-team teams — three that includes Jap Convention groups, and three comprising groups from the West — with every staff then taking part in one recreation in opposition to the opposite 4 of their group. The winner of every group, plus the staff with the very best report among the many nongroup winners, will then advance to the knockout rounds.
How will this influence the regular-season schedule and standings?
Usually, the NBA sends out a full 82-game schedule in mid-August. Now, although, the league sends out solely 80 video games and leaves a spot for roughly per week to fill in later, relying on how the group stage of the NBA Cup performs out.
The groups that attain the NBA Cup’s finale will really play 83 video games — although the championship recreation will not rely towards the standings or any statistical markers. Those who lose within the semifinals may have performed their full 82-game schedule and will not want something added.
The 2 groups from each the East and West that lose within the quarterfinals will play their 82nd recreation in opposition to each other on one among 4 dates: Dec. 12, 13, 15 or 16. In the meantime, the 22 groups that fail to qualify for the knockout rounds may have their ultimate two video games scheduled — one at residence and one on the highway — on Dec. 12 or 13 and 15 or 16 in opposition to others eradicated within the group stage.
Why does the NBA Cup embrace regular-season video games?
Earlier than its launch, one of many major questions surrounding the in-season match was why any staff can be incentivized to compete in it. By making each recreation a part of the season — and, being in-conference, doubtlessly necessary from a playoff-tiebreaker standpoint — the NBA ensured groups will probably be motivated.
If this had been arrange just like the cup tournaments in European soccer, there would have been nothing stopping NBA groups from opting out, actually or figuratively — sitting their high gamers for further relaxation.
What groups make up the teams?
To create the teams, the NBA put all 15 groups in every convention into 5 pots, separated by their end in final season’s standings. Pot 1 included the groups that completed 1-3 in regular-season report, groups 4-6 went into Pot 2, groups 7-9 into Pot 3, groups 10-12 into Pot 4 and groups 13-15 into Pot 5.
Because of this, the next teams have been drawn:
East A: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets
East B: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons
East C: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
West A: Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
West B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs
West C: Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies
Does one group stand out essentially the most from the others?
Sure, there may be an apparent one: West Group C, that includes the Nuggets, Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors and Grizzlies.
Due to how the draw is carried out, Golden State and Memphis, which handled a mix of suspensions and accidents, are considerably stronger than you’ll anticipate groups within the backside two pots to be.
However along with that includes the reigning MVP in Nikola Jokic and Zion Williamson, the group additionally may provide the primary assembly between Klay Thompson and his former staff after the guard signed with Dallas following 13 seasons with Golden State.
What do gamers get for successful?
Final 12 months, the gamers on the successful staff acquired $500,000 every, whereas these on the runners-up acquired $200,000. The shedding gamers of the semifinals every acquired $100,000, and people ousted within the quarterfinals every acquired $50,000.
This 12 months, the prizes will probably be barely increased due to negotiated raises 12 months over 12 months to maintain tempo with will increase within the wage cap and basketball associated earnings as a part of the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation.
Will anybody earn particular person honors for his or her play in NBA Cup video games?
There will probably be an MVP award, in addition to an all-tournament staff.
Will this have any influence on the playoffs?
Not past the video games counting within the regular-season standings (and towards tiebreakers). Although there was debate amongst league insiders about guaranteeing a playoff berth for successful the match, finally that concept (or some other to additional incentivize groups) was not enacted.
The talk continued after final 12 months’s in-season match winner, the Lakers, wound up within the play-in match, whereas the runner-up, the Pacers, narrowly prevented touchdown in it. However, in the long run, the one playoff influence comes from the wins and losses accrued all through the match.
Why is it known as the Emirates NBA Cup?
The league struck a sponsorship cope with Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, to sponsor the match after its preliminary run. The NBA stated final 12 months that it went with essentially the most fundamental titles for each the match and its trophy — the “in-season match” and “NBA Cup” — as a method to introduce the idea to followers.
Nevertheless, utilizing such nondescript names had one other clear benefit: It gave the league a clean slate in case the match and cup grew to become properties it ended up promoting to a sponsor, and prevented the problems that would come up by naming them after somebody (for instance, the late NBA commissioner David Stern, one risk that had been floated earlier than the match was formally unveiled).
