The NBA Cup knockout round is set. Four teams that were victorious Friday night claimed group stage wins and advanced to the quarterfinals. One losing team from Friday and one idle team earned the two wild-card spots.
In the East, the first team to punch its ticket into the knockout round was the Orlando Magic. The Magic (4-0) defeated the Detroit Pistons (2-2), 112-109, behind 37 points from Desmond Bane in taking Group B. The New York Knicks (3-1) also advanced to the knockout stage with a 118-109 win over the Milwaukee Bucks (2-2). Jalen Brunson (37 points, 5 assists) led the Knicks who won Group C because they previously beat the Heat head-to-head, but Miami will advance as the wild card team from the Eastern Conference based on being the only other 3-1 team.
In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0) came out of Group A on the strength of a 123-119 win over the Phoenix Suns (3-1). Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs (3-1) got a 139-136 road win over the Denver Nuggets (2-2) to take Group C. The conference’s wild-card spot was claimed by Phoenix because of its +31 point differential topped the Memphis Grizzlies’ (3-1) +14.
Entering Friday, six of the eight spots in the league’s third annual in-season tournament were up for grabs. The Los Angeles Lakers (4-0) and Toronto Raptors (4-0) previously clinched a spot in the quarterfinals.
The 19-1 Thunder are currently the favorites to win the 2025 NBA Cup (-105 at FanDuel). The Bucks won the competition last year, and the Lakers won the initial version in 2023.
2025 NBA Cup bracket
Bracket to be determined after Friday’s games.
NBA Cup standings
Standings entering Friday’s action.
NBA
2025 NBA Cup knockout stage schedule
- Quarterfinals: Tuesday, Dec. 9, and Wednesday, Dec. 10, at higher seed
- Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 13, at Las Vegas
- Final: Tuesday, Dec. 16, at Las Vegas
