NBA Cup 2024: Latest Standings, Bracket Predictions After November 15 Group Play

The top contenders in the NBA Cup are starting to take shape after two sets of games from Tuesday and Friday.

The Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors lead their respective groups after Friday's results.

Not all of those six teams will advance to the quarterfinals as group winners, but they all have at least put themselves in a great spot to move on to the final eight. The best second-place team in each conference also moves on.

Some teams have already been knocked too far from contention for first place in their groups, most notably the Philadelphia 76ers, who at 0-2 with losses to Orlando and the New York Knicks, do not have a path to winning East Group A.

East Group A

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ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 15: Moritz Wagner #21 of the Orlando Magic celebrates during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the Emirates NBA Cup game on November 15, 2024 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

1. Orlando (2-0; +37)

2. New York (2-0; +14)

3. Brooklyn (0-1; -2)

4. Charlotte (0-1; -25)

5. Philadelphia (0-2; -24)

East Group A will come down to the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks.

Orlando essentially eliminated the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. The Sixers sit at 0-2 with a large point differential. They will be more focused on ramping up Joel Embiid and his on-court chemistry with Paul George instead of winning the NBA Cup.

The Magic and Knicks meet on December 3 at Madison Square Garden to likely determine the group winner. Both teams need to win their other game in group play so that they are positioned to earn the top second-place spot if they lose the head-to-head clash.

The Knicks would be favored to win that contest at home, but Orlando will make it close because of its defense.

The Magic have held all of their opponents under 100 points during their current five-game winning streak.

Prediction: 1. New York, 2. Orlando, 3. Philadelphia, 4. Brooklyn, 5. Charlotte

East Group B

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TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 15: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors during the Emirates NBA CUP game on November 15, 2024 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)

1. Detroit (2-0; +4)

2. Milwaukee (1-0; +14)

3. Miami (1-1; +13)

4. Indiana (0-1; -13)

5. Toronto (0-2; -18)

The Detroit Pistons eked past the Toronto Raptors on the road on Friday to grab hold of a slender lead atop East Group B.

The Pistons are not in the clear yet because they have to play the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers in their final two group games.

The Bucks are better positioned to beat the Pistons and grab first place because they are 1-0 in pool play.

Indiana and Milwaukee square off next Friday, while the Pacers and Pistons square off the following Friday.

The Bucks and Pistons are scheduled to meet on December 3, and if they both beat the Pacers, that game will be for first place in East Group B, but expect the Pacers to be competitive against both teams to potentially create a three-way mess atop the group.

Prediction: 1. Milwaukee, 2. Indiana, 3. Detroit, 4. Miami, 5. Toronto

East Group C

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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 15: De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Atlanta Hawks dunks the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards during the Emirates NBA Cup game on November 15, 2024 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

1. Atlanta (2-0; +13)

2. Cleveland (1-0; +18)

3. Boston (0-1; -1)

4. Washington (0-1; -12)

5. Chicago (0-1; -18)

The Atlanta Hawks are on top of East Group C thanks to their upset win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday and victory against the Washington Wizards on Friday.

The Hawks will be expected to beat the Chicago Bulls, so their path to a surprising first-place finish goes through the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 14-0 Cavs visit Atlanta on November 29, but we'll know a lot about how the two teams match up from a November 27 regular-season clash in Cleveland.

Donovan Mitchell and Co. will be expected to beat the Hawks in both games.

However, the Cavs might desperately need that win over Atlanta if they fall to the Celtics in Boston on Tuesday.

The Celtics have to use Tuesday as a bounce-back opportunity, and if they do, they need the Cavs to beat the Hawks and to run the score up on the Wizards and Bulls.

Prediction: 1. Boston, 2. Cleveland, 3. Atlanta, 4. Washington, 5 Chicago

West Group A

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HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 15: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the LA Clippers during the Emirates NBA Cup game on November 15, 2024 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images)

1. Houston (1-0; +21)

2. Portland (1-0; +14)

3. Minnesota (1-1; -14)

4. Sacramento (0-1; -4)

5. Los Angeles Clippers (0-1; -21)

The Houston Rockets put up a 21-point margin of victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

That could turn into an important result in West Group A because of how tight some of the games are predicted to be.

The Clippers, Sacramento and Minnesota are all expected to contend in some regard. The Wolves beat the Kings on Friday, but only by four points in overtime.

Minnesota still has a -14 point differential from its Tuesday loss to Portland. It needs to not just beat the Clippers and Rockets, but run up the score as well to sit in a more comfortable position.

West Group A should receive more clarity next Friday, when the Clippers visit the Kings. Houston hosts Portland on the same day, so it at least go to 2-0 ahead of games with Minnesota and Sacramento.

Prediction: 1. Houston, 2. Sacramento, 3. Minnesota, 4. LA Clippers, 5. Portland

West Group B

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - NOVEMBER 15: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives around Tyus Jones #21 of the Phoenix Suns during the third quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup game at Paycom Center on November 15, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images)

1. Oklahoma City (1-0; +16)

2. Los Angeles Lakers (1-0; +5)

3. Phoenix (1-1; -8)

4. San Antonio (0-1; -5)

5. Utah (0-1; -8)

The Oklahoma City Thunder keep on winning without Chet Holmgren.

OKC took down the Kevin Durant-less Phoenix Suns on Friday to open up an edge on point differential over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. held the Suns to 83 points and won by 16, while LeBron James led the Lakers to a five-point triumph over the San Antonio Spurs.

The Thunder and Lakers meet in Los Angeles on November 29. Phoenix plays the Lakers on November 26 and it has to treat that like an elimination game.

A Lakers win over the Suns would set up a battle for first place with the Thunder. Each team could also be in the mix for the top second-place spot in the West because they still have an opportunity to pad their point differential against the Utah Jazz.

The difference in the head-to-head meeting should be Anthony Davis' size, but if OKC keeps it close with the Lakers, it still has a chance to finish second and advance.

Prediction: 1. LA Lakers, 2. Oklahoma City, 3. Phoenix, 4. San Antonio, 5. Utah

West Group C

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 15: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the Emirates NBA Cup game on November 15, 2024 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

1. Golden State (2-0; +8)

2. New Orleans (1-0; +7)

3. Dallas (0-1; -3)

4. Memphis (0-1; -5)

5. Denver (0-1; -7)

Golden State can be considered the favorite to advance out of West Group C after two games.

The Warriors still have to play the Denver Nuggets on December 3, but Denver now has a loss in group play to the New Orleans Pelicans. Denver played on Friday without Nikola Jokic.

Dallas' loss to Golden State put it on the back foot in the group. It has to be perfect for the rest of group play, but that may be hard with a trip to Denver on the horizon next Friday.

New Orleans could still be a player in West Group C as well, but it needs to beat the Mavericks on Tuesday to be in a good spot when Golden State comes to town on November 22.

Prediction: 1. Denver, 2. Golden State, 3. Dallas, 4. New Orleans, 5. Memphis