Welcome to the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup Finals! Eight teams, four from each conference, are battling in the quarterfinals for a chance to move on to the semifinals in Las Vegas. The ultimate winner will earn a spot in NBA Cup history, lifting the trophy weighing all 35 pounds, and claiming the honor of being only the third team to win this exciting ongoing competition.
In Tuesday’s quarterfinal games, Orlando Magic and New York Knicks triumphed over the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors, securing their places in the semifinals. They will face off against the Western Conference winner, who will be decided on Wednesday.
Let’s take a moment to revisit the unfolding action in the West. Three quarterfinal spots remain open, setting the stage for a thrilling final group stage night. Denver hosted a dramatic game where the Spurs battled back from an 18-point deficit thanks to a powerful second-half performance by Devin Vassell and Julien Champagnie. San Antonio, despite missing star players like Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, scored 80 points in the second half but narrowly lost 139-136 to Denver. The Spurs finished Group C with a 3-1 record and moved forward to the final round, after beating both Denver and Houston.
In Oklahoma City, the Suns pushed the defending champions, the Thunder, to the brink. Phoenix overcame a 15-point deficit with impressive three-point shooting in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell 123-119. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 37 points, including clutch free throws, helped the Thunder finish 4-0 in Group A, securing the top Western seed with a +75 point differential. Meanwhile, Phoenix also advanced, earning a Wild Card spot with a 3-1 record and +31 point difference, edging out the Memphis Grizzlies.
Now, the exciting rematch is set: Thunder vs. Suns, and another thrilling matchup between the high-scoring Lakers and the Spurs, who have triumphed eight times in eleven outings despite losing their star center.
For the Suns-Thunder game (7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video), the Oklahoma City Thunder have been dominant, starting the season 23-1 and winning 15 straight games, a record only matched by historic teams like the 1969-70 Knicks and the 2015-16 Warriors. Defensively, the Thunder lead the NBA, despite Isaiah Hartenstein missing the quarterfinals with an injury. Offensively, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drives their success, even with some key players sidelined. The Suns face challenges too, missing key players like Devin Booker and Jalen Green, putting their firepower to a tough test.
Meanwhile, the Spurs will be tasked with containing Wembanyama, who dominated early in the season but has been kept in check recently. The Lakers-Spurs game (10 p.m. ET on Prime Video) features stars like Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reeves. Despite some defensive struggles, the Lakers’ offense shines with LeBron playing a more supportive role. The Spurs, even without Wembanyama, boast strong shooters and playmakers, making this a hard-fought contest.
Looking ahead, quarterfinal winners advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas on December 13, with the finals scheduled for December 16. The championship game won’t affect regular season stats or records and marks the 83rd meeting between some of these teams. Quarterfinal losers will also compete in regular season games.
Players earn guaranteed prize money for reaching the quarterfinals, with escalating rewards for advancing further and winning. Prize money has grown in line with increased league basketball-related income, ensuring significant incentives for all competitors.
Fan Take: This tournament showcases the NBA’s exciting growth and the rising competitiveness across teams, offering fans fresh rivalries and high-stakes drama midseason. Watching emerging stars like Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama headline these games adds a thrilling new chapter to basketball’s evolving story.
