The NBA Cup quarterfinal matchups have been announced, with eight teams advancing after the conclusion of group play. While Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks make their second consecutive appearances in the quarterfinals, the remaining contenders—Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, and Orlando Magic—are making their debut in this stage of the tournament.
In the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee (4-0) will host Orlando, which advanced as the East’s wild-card team after edging Boston on a point-differential tiebreaker. The Bucks secured their berth by winning East Group B with a commanding win over Detroit.
New York (4-0), winners of East Group A, will host Atlanta (3-1), the East Group C winners. The Hawks had already clinched their spot with a key one-point win over Boston earlier in group play.
In the Western Conference, Oklahoma City Thunder will host Dallas Mavericks in a clash of division rivals. The Thunder sealed their spot by winning West Group B, while Dallas staged a dramatic rally to overcome a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit against Memphis, earning the wild-card berth.
Meanwhile, Houston Rockets, who emerged victorious in West Group A, will host the Golden State Warriors, winners of West Group C.
The quarterfinal winners will move on to the semifinals, scheduled to take place in Las Vegas on December 14. The championship game will also be held in Las Vegas on December 17, capping the inaugural NBA Cup tournament.
Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks remain the most experienced teams in this stage, having also reached the quarterfinals in the tournament’s inaugural edition. Both teams showcased dominant performances in group play, each finishing 4-0.
The Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, have been particularly impressive, with their unbeaten run featuring decisive victories. New York, spearheaded by Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, also looks formidable as it eyes a deeper run this year.
Six other teams bring a mix of youth and veteran leadership to their first quarterfinals. Oklahoma City has leaned on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s stellar performances to claim West Group B, while Houston has been one of the surprise packages, powered by its young core.
Golden State, buoyed by the experience of Steph Curry and Draymond Green, continues to defy doubters, while Dallas’ Luka Dončić remains a game-changer, as evidenced by their thrilling comeback against Memphis.
Atlanta and Orlando round out the group, with both teams emerging from tight contests in the East to secure their spots.
The stage is now set for an exciting week of action, as teams battle for a shot at the title in Las Vegas.
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