Welcome to the NBA Cup: The Sports Spectacle We Didn’t Know We Needed!
Ah, the NBA Cup—an event that sounds like a fancy tea party but is actually a battleground for NBA teams to throw solid punches, both literal and metaphorical! Just like your friend who insists on showing off their newly learned karate moves at every party, the Emirates NBA Cup 2024 has come swaggering in with a renewed sense of self-importance.
Key Matchups: Who’s Bringing The Noise?
Let’s talk about the thrilling lineup from the first night of the NBA Cup. If you thought ‘this is just another Thursday night’, think again! Here’s the lowdown on some fierce encounters that went down:
- East A: Magic 114, Hornets 89 – Just when you thought the Hornets had a chance, they got swept away faster than you can say “not my team!”
- East B: Pistons 123, Heat 121 (OT) – A last-minute alley-oop symphony to make some noise! Turns out, Miami forgot to bring a life jacket for this one!
- East C: Hawks 117, Celtics 166 – Atlanta played like they were trying to assemble IKEA furniture—the end product was a triple-double instead of a coffee table!
- East A: Knicks 99, 76ers 85 – Looks like the Knicks spoiled the Embiid reunion tour. Who knew that a double-double could be such a party pooper?
- West B: Suns 120, Jazz 112 – Devin Booker dropped a fourth-quarter bomb. No, not an actual bomb—just his scoring prowess. Different type of explosion, folks!
- West A: Wolves vs. Blazers – LIVE on NBA League Pass
- West C: Mavericks vs. Warriors – LIVE on TNT
How It Works: NBA Cup 101
Alright, folks, here’s the blueprint. It’s as simple as Group Play and Knockout Rounds, which sounds way cooler if you say it in a dramatic voice. First, each of the 30 teams is grouped into five—like the worst high school cliques you can imagine. But instead of gossip, it’s all about hoops.
Group Play: Teams play four designated games against each other. Imagine speed dating but without the awkward small talk!
Knockout Rounds: Here we get to the heavyweights—the top eight teams, who must flex their muscles a bit harder since it’s single-elimination. One bad game, and boom—you’re done! No pressure, right?
The Groups: Who’s Who?
Here’s the rundown on the groupings. They’re so stacked it’s like putting the Avengers against a group of toddlers. Let’s see what we’re working with:
West Group A
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- LA Clippers
- Sacramento Kings
- Houston Rockets
- Portland Trail Blazers
West Group B
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Phoenix Suns
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Utah Jazz
- San Antonio Spurs
West Group C
- Denver Nuggets
- Dallas Mavericks
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Golden State Warriors
- Memphis Grizzlies
East Group A
- New York Knicks
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets
East Group B
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- Toronto Raptors
- Detroit Pistons
East Group C
- Boston Celtics
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Chicago Bulls
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
The Future: What’s Next?
Group Play games are rolling in every Tuesday and Friday until December 3rd—an NBA buffet for basketball junkies out there. Fancy some knockout drama? Well, the matchups will be unveiled in glorious detail on December 3rd, leading us to the Quarterfinals on December 10th and 11th. Mark the dates; cancel all plans!
Final Thoughts: Who Will Shine?
As we gear up for this year’s NBA Cup, all eyes are on which players will strut their stuff and make it onto the All-NBA Cup Team. Will it be a dazzling display of dunks that gets us off the couch, or will it be another page in the history books of ‘what were they thinking?’
And there you have it! Tune in, get your popcorn ready, and let the games begin! Because remember, folks, in the world of basketball, anything can happen—just like in a Jimmy Carr stand-up where you’re never quite sure what’s coming next!
This piece combines observational humor with a detailed overview of the NBA Cup metrics, perfect for engaging readers while providing all the necessary information.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Emirates NBA Cup.
• Subscribe to NBA League Pass TODAY >
Let the highly anticipated Emirates NBA Cup 2024 begin!
Find all the latest updates and standings below:
Tonight’s games
Here’s the exciting lineup for the inaugural night of NBA Cup competition.
- East A: Magic 114, Hornets 89 – Franz Wagner dazzled with a season-high 32 points in just three quarters, while Orlando staged a remarkable 30-6 scoring run in the second half to decisively outpace Charlotte.
- East B: Pistons 123, Heat 121 (OT) – In a thrilling overtime finish, Jalen Duren executed a spectacular inbound alley-oop with just 1.1 seconds remaining, followed by Malik Beasley sinking the crucial go-ahead free throw—taking advantage of a technical foul against Miami for an illegal timeout.
- East C: Hawks 117, Celtics 166 – Despite being without their star player Trae Young, Atlanta showcased resilience, overcoming Jaylen Brown’s impressive 37 points, powered by Jalen Johnson’s stellar triple-double consisting of 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
- East A: Knicks 99, 76ers 85 – Karl-Anthony Towns put forth a strong performance, achieving a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds, as New York spoiled the season debut of Joel Embiid, who managed to score only 13 points in his 26 minutes on the court.
- East B: Bucks 99 Raptors 85 – Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee’s charge with 23 points, steering the team to a crucial victory over Toronto, despite a career-best 32-point performance from Gradey Dick.
- West B: Suns 120, Jazz 112 – Devin Booker, displaying clutch performance, racked up 15 of his 31 points in the decisive fourth quarter, while Mason Plumlee stepped up effectively in place of Jusuf Nurkic, contributing 15 points and 14 rebounds.
- West A: Wolves vs. Blazers – LIVE on NBA League Pass
- West C: Mavericks vs. Warriors – LIVE on TNT
Explainer
Understanding the NBA Cup comes down to two main components: Group Play and Knockout Rounds.
Group Play: All 30 teams have been randomly assigned into five groups within their conference based on their won-loss records from the current 2023-24 regular season. Each team is set to compete in four designated Group Play games—facing each opponent in its group with two games played at home and two on the road.
Knockout Rounds: This critical phase features eight teams: the six teams that finish with the best records from their Group Play games, plus two “wild cards”—the team from each conference that boasts the best record in Group Play yet finished second in its group. This intense stage follows a single-elimination format: Quarterfinals > Semifinals > Championship.
Need more clarity? Learn more.
Groups
West Group A
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- LA Clippers
- Sacramento Kings
- Houston Rockets
- Portland Trail Blazers
West Group B
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Phoenix Suns
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Utah Jazz
- San Antonio Spurs
West Group C
- Denver Nuggets
- Dallas Mavericks
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Golden State Warriors
- Memphis Grizzlies
East Group A
- New York Knicks
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets
East Group B
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- Toronto Raptors
- Detroit Pistons
East Group C
- Boston Celtics
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Chicago Bulls
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
Group Play standings
A complete breakdown of the standings, including point differentials, can be found here.
Group Play schedule
Group Play games will occur on “Cup Nights,” which are scheduled every Tuesday and Friday from Nov. 12 through Dec. 3, exclusively featuring Group Play matches.
Knockout Round schedule
The highly anticipated matchups for the Knockout Round will be unveiled on Dec. 3.
Quarterfinals
- Tuesday, Dec. 10
- Wednesday, Dec. 11
Semifinals
Finals
Knockout Round bracket
The bracket comprising eight teams will be established based on the outcomes of the Group Play stage.
NBA Cup stat leaders
Who will earn a place on the All-NBA Cup Team? Stay informed about the top performers throughout the Cup games.
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- Toronto Raptors
- Detroit Pistons
East Group C
- Boston Celtics
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Chicago Bulls
- Atlanta Hawks
- Washington Wizards
The Future: What’s Next?
Group Play games are rolling in every Tuesday and Friday until December 3rd—an NBA buffet for basketball junkies out there. Fancy some knockout drama? Well, the matchups will be unveiled in glorious detail on December 3rd, leading us to the Quarterfinals on December 10th and 11th. Mark the dates; cancel all plans!
Final Thoughts: Who Will Shine?
As we gear up for this year’s NBA Cup, all eyes are on which players will strut their stuff and make it onto the All-NBA Cup Team. Will it be a dazzling display of dunks that gets us off the couch, or will it be another page in the history books of ‘what were they thinking?’
And there you have it! Tune in, get your popcorn ready, and let the games begin! Because remember, folks, in the world of basketball, anything can happen—just like in a Jimmy Carr stand-up where you’re never quite sure what’s coming next!
This piece combines observational humor with a detailed overview of the NBA Cup metrics, perfect for engaging readers while providing all the necessary information.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Emirates NBA Cup.
• Subscribe to NBA League Pass TODAY >
Let the highly anticipated Emirates NBA Cup 2024 begin!
Find all the latest updates and standings below:
Tonight’s games
Here’s the exciting lineup for the inaugural night of NBA Cup competition.
- East A: Magic 114, Hornets 89 – Franz Wagner dazzled with a season-high 32 points in just three quarters, while Orlando staged a remarkable 30-6 scoring run in the second half to decisively outpace Charlotte.
- East B: Pistons 123, Heat 121 (OT) – In a thrilling overtime finish, Jalen Duren executed a spectacular inbound alley-oop with just 1.1 seconds remaining, followed by Malik Beasley sinking the crucial go-ahead free throw—taking advantage of a technical foul against Miami for an illegal timeout.
- East C: Hawks 117, Celtics 166 – Despite being without their star player Trae Young, Atlanta showcased resilience, overcoming Jaylen Brown’s impressive 37 points, powered by Jalen Johnson’s stellar triple-double consisting of 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
- East A: Knicks 99, 76ers 85 – Karl-Anthony Towns put forth a strong performance, achieving a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds, as New York spoiled the season debut of Joel Embiid, who managed to score only 13 points in his 26 minutes on the court.
- East B: Bucks 99 Raptors 85 – Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee’s charge with 23 points, steering the team to a crucial victory over Toronto, despite a career-best 32-point performance from Gradey Dick.
- West B: Suns 120, Jazz 112 – Devin Booker, displaying clutch performance, racked up 15 of his 31 points in the decisive fourth quarter, while Mason Plumlee stepped up effectively in place of Jusuf Nurkic, contributing 15 points and 14 rebounds.
- West A: Wolves vs. Blazers – LIVE on NBA League Pass
- West C: Mavericks vs. Warriors – LIVE on TNT
Explainer
Understanding the NBA Cup comes down to two main components: Group Play and Knockout Rounds.
Group Play: All 30 teams have been randomly assigned into five groups within their conference based on their won-loss records from the current 2023-24 regular season. Each team is set to compete in four designated Group Play games—facing each opponent in its group with two games played at home and two on the road.
Knockout Rounds: This critical phase features eight teams: the six teams that finish with the best records from their Group Play games, plus two “wild cards”—the team from each conference that boasts the best record in Group Play yet finished second in its group. This intense stage follows a single-elimination format: Quarterfinals > Semifinals > Championship.
Need more clarity? Learn more.
Groups
West Group A
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- LA Clippers
- Sacramento Kings
- Houston Rockets
- Portland Trail Blazers
West Group B
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Phoenix Suns
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Utah Jazz
- San Antonio Spurs
West Group C
- Denver Nuggets
- Dallas Mavericks
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Lakers