The NBA Cup is moving into its final round, with some dramatic twists on the last night of group play. The Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs have secured their spots, while losses by the Cavaliers and Pistons allowed the Miami Heat to grab a wild card position.
Here’s a breakdown of the upcoming quarterfinal matchups, how each team advanced, and a brief analysis:
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic (December 9)
Orlando clinched the top seed in Group B East by defeating Detroit, while Miami advanced through the wild card with a 3-1 record thanks to losses by Detroit and Cleveland. Orlando has improved lately, especially on defense, though they’ve played without Paolo Banchero, who is expected to return for this game. Miami, without an All-Star at the start of the season, has impressed with a fresh offensive style focused on isolation plays and strong performances from Norman Powell and Tyler Herro. If Banchero struggles to quickly re-integrate, Miami could exploit that advantage.
New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors (December 9)
Toronto holds the No. 2 seed with a perfect 4-0 record after an earlier win over Washington. New York earned their spot after a big victory against Milwaukee. The Raptors rely heavily on transition play with capable finishers like Barrett, Barnes, and Quickley, while the Knicks are strong in half-court sets led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The game will be a test of which team can impose its preferred style and whether Brandon Ingram can dominate when the pace slows.
Western Conference
Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (December 10)
This rematch follows a close Friday night win by the Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 37 points. The Thunder topped Group A, and the Suns could still advance as a wild card. Despite the Thunder’s strong record, Phoenix’s balanced scoring—highlighted by Collin Gillespie and Devin Booker—has made them one of this season’s surprises. Their performance in this high-stake game will prove their legitimacy.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers (December 10)
The Lakers won West Group B and secured home court advantage after impressive wins over the Clippers and Mavericks. San Antonio progressed to Group C despite missing key players like Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs have been strong even without him, led by Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie. This matchup pits the Spurs’ solid offense against a Lakers team led by MVP-caliber Luka Doncic and will be one to watch closely.
Schedule
- Quarterfinals: December 9-10 (higher-seed home)
- Semifinals: December 13 (Las Vegas)
- Championship: December 16 (Las Vegas)
Prize Money
Players are highly motivated by the prizes, with the champion receiving roughly $530,933 per player, while runners-up and other advancing teams receive decreasing amounts down to $53,093 for quarterfinal losers.
How to Watch
NBA games air on NBC and Peacock, with multiple games streamed live weekly. Peacock offers Monday night games and NBC broadcasts Tuesday and Sunday night basketball with full schedules available online.
Fan Take:
This NBA Cup progression showcases the growing competitiveness and excitement in early-season basketball, giving fans a fresh stage to see emerging strategies and standout players. The stakes and prize money add extra intensity, hinting at how such tournaments could elevate the sport’s popularity and showcase new talent in the years to come.
