NBA Cup 2024: Latest Standings, Bracket Predictions November 22 Group Play

The Golden State Warriors clinched the first of eight spots in the NBA Cup knockout round on Friday night.

The Warriors moved to 3-0 in West Group C with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. They can't drop from the top spot due to head-to-head wins against the Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks.

The other five groups do not have as much clarity as West Group C.

Games on the next two Tuesdays and next Friday will help determine the five other group winners and the top second-place teams in each conference who will join the six group winners in the quarterfinals.

East Group A

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 22: Jared McCain #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during the Emirates NBA Cup game on November 22, 2024 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

1. Orlando (2-0; +37)

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

3. Philadelphia (1-2; -9)

4. Brooklyn (1-2; -16)

5. Charlotte (0-2; -26)

No change occurred at the top of East Group A on Friday.

The Orlando Magic and New York Knicks had the night off and they still are the two best suited teams to advance out of East Group A.

The Philadelphia 76ers moved into third place with a win over the Brooklyn Nets without Joel Embiid and Paul George.

The win does not mean much for the Sixers in terms of advancement since they already suffered defeats to the Magic and Knicks.

Orlando and New York will meet on December 3 for the group title. The Magic visit Brooklyn and the Knicks face the Charlotte Hornets next Friday.

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

East Group B

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MILWAUKEE, WI - NOVEMBER 22: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks boxes out during the game against the Indiana Pacers during a Emirates NBA Cup on November 22, 2024 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images).

1. Milwaukee (2-0; +26)

2. Detroit (2-0; +4)

3. Miami (1-1: +13)

4. Toronto (0-2; -18)

5. Indiana (0-2; -25)

The Milwaukee Bucks surged in front of East Group B on point differential thanks to a 12-point win over the Indiana Pacers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double and Damian Lillard produced 13 assists for the Bucks, who should be considered the favorite to win East Group B.

Giannis and Co. visit the Detroit Pistons on December 3 in the game that will likely determine first place.

The Miami Heat will attempt to have a say since they host the Bucks on Tuesday, but Milwaukee at its best can win that contest with ease.

Detroit needs to beat Indiana on Friday to ensure it is in the mix to be the top second-placed team out of the Eastern Conference groups.

A one-loss team will likely move on in the wild-card role due to the statuses of the teams in East Group C.

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

East Group C

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WASHINGTON, DC -  NOVEMBER 22: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots a free throw during the game against the Washington Wizards during the Emirates NBA Cup game on November 22, 2024 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)

1. Atlanta (2-1; -1)

2. Boston (2-1; +14)

3. Cleveland (1-1; +15)

4. Chicago (1-1; -4)

5. Washington (0-2; -24)

The Chicago Bulls shook things up in East Group C with a win over the first-place Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

Atlanta is still on top for now because it owns a head-to-head victory over the Boston Celtics.

Boston picked up its second win of the competition over the Washington Wizards. The Celtics moved their point differential up to +14, which will come into play if there is a three-way tie for first place.

The Celtics need to run the score up on the Bulls on Friday to have the edge in the point differential tiebreaker.

Atlanta could slip up against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, which would then shift the balance of power in the group to the Celtics because of their head-to-head win over the Cavs.

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

West Group A

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 22: Kris Dunn #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers attempts a layup against Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter in the Emirates NBA Cup at Intuit Dome on November 22, 2024 in Inglewood, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

1. Houston (2-0; +49)

2. Los Angeles Clippers (1-1; -5)

3. Portland (1-1; -14)

4. Minnesota (1-1; -14)

5. Sacramento (0-2; -16)

The Houston Rockets padded their advantage on top of West Group A with a 116-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Houston does not have the group title locked up yet because it visits the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings

Minnesota has the biggest opportunities in front of it next week since it hosts the Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers.

Two wins by the Wolves would dramatically shift the dynamic of West Group A.

The Wolves seem like the biggest threat to the Rockets since the Kings are 0-2 and the Clippers already fell to Houston.

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

West Group B

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 21: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on November 21, 2024 in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

1. Los Angeles Lakers (2-0; +11)

2. Oklahoma City (1-1; +10)

3. San Antonio (1-1; +1)

4. Phoenix (1-1; -8)

5. Utah (0-2; -14)

No games were played in West Group B on Friday night.

The San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz face each other on Tuesday night in a must-win for the Spurs.

The Los Angeles Lakers need to beat the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday to extend their advantage as the only unbeaten team remaining in the group.

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

West Group C

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 22: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors takes a shot in front of New Orleans Pelicans guard Elfrid Payton #22 during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup game at Smoothie King Center on November 22, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)

1. Golden State (3-0; +12)

2. Dallas (2-1; +41)

3. New Orleans (1-2; -38)

4. Denver (1-2; +2)

5. Memphis (0-2; -17)

The Golden State Warriors became the first group winner on Friday night.

Steph Curry and Co. defeated the New Orleans Pelicans and got some help with the Dallas Mavericks' win over the Denver Nuggets.

Golden State owns head-to-head wins over Dallas and New Orleans and Denver can't eclipse it with a head-to-head win.

New Orleans was eliminated from knockout contention with its home loss to the Warriors.

Dallas needs to run the score up against the Memphis Grizzlies in its final group-stage game to make a charge at the top second-place spot in the West.

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