Quarterfinal matchups are set as the group stage concludes
The NBA Cup knockout stage is heating up, with four teams from the Eastern Conference securing their spots in the quarterfinals. Milwaukee, New York, Atlanta, and Orlando have advanced, setting up two exciting matchups next week.
Milwaukee (4-0) will host Orlando (3-1), while New York (4-0) will face Atlanta (3-1) at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 11, as announced by the Knicks. The Magic claimed the East’s wild-card slot after edging Boston in a point-differential tiebreaker.
Key performances clinch berths
Milwaukee secured its position by defeating Detroit to win East Group B, with Bucks coach Doc Rivers praising his team’s undefeated group stage performance. “We’re 4-0, but we still have a lot of work to do. The bottom line is, we earned a chance to play at home,” Rivers said.
Meanwhile, the Knicks defeated the Magic in a high-stakes game to win East Group A, despite Orlando’s strong fourth-quarter rally to secure their wild-card slot. Atlanta had previously locked in its berth by topping East Group C, with a crucial one-point victory over Boston on Nov. 12.
Western Conference standings take shape
In the West, Oklahoma City clinched the Group B title with a victory over Utah, joining Houston (Group A) and Golden State (Group C) in the quarterfinals. Dallas kept its wild-card hopes alive with a dramatic comeback win over Memphis, rallying from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit. The final wild-card spot will depend on the outcome of a late game between Portland and Sacramento.
Thunder guard Cason Wallace captured the spirit of the tournament, saying, “I don’t really know much about the Cup and how it works and everything. I just know I want to win.”
Semifinals and finals set for Las Vegas
The four quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas on Dec. 14, with the title game set for Dec. 17.
Despite the tournament’s newness, its intensity is undeniable. “They put a tournament in front of us and we want to win it,” Rivers said.
Stay tuned as teams battle for the NBA Cup trophy in this exciting mid-season showdown.
