NBA Cup Bracket 2025 Early Storylines for Knockout Rounds After Group Play
The NBA Cup field was narrowed to eight teams after the conclusion of group-stage action on Friday night.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic all went undefeated in group play and earned home games in the quarterfinal round.
Orlando hosts the Miami Heat and the Raptors welcome the New York Knicks on December 9.
Oklahoma City hosts the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs visit the Lakers on December 10.
The four quarterfinal winners will then head to Las Vegas for the semifinals on December 13. The semifinal victors square off in the championship game on December 16.
Will OKC's Dominance Extend into NBA Cup?
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Oklahoma City has been the dominant force in the NBA for the last 12 months.
The reigning NBA champion is 19-1 this season and swept West Group A in the NBA Cup.
No one seems to have an answer for the Thunder right now, and if that winning run continues, they will not come up short in the NBA Cup, like they did last season against the Milwaukee Bucks.
OKC needs to beat Phoenix, a team it beat to clinch the group title on Friday, to reach Las Vegas.
The assumption is the Thunder will be an even stronger team by December 10. Jalen Williams will have two weeks worth of games under his belt by then and Isaiah Hartenstein, who missed Friday's game, should on the floor as well.
Phoenix could always spring the upset, but it feels like the Suns have less of a chance to win a knockout-round game than any of the eight quarterfinalists due to OKC's form.
Will the Spurs Be Fully Healthy by Time of Lakers Clash?
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San Antonio lost by two points to the Lakers in their November 5 clash in Texas.
Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle both played huge roles in the 118-116 defeat. Both players are currently sidelined with injuries.
Wembanyama was ruled out for multiple weeks with a calf issue and Castle is dealing with a hip flexor strain.
If one or both of those players are back by December 10, the Spurs have a much better chance of challenging Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Co.
James didn't play for the Lakers in that contest against the Spurs. The Lakers obviously look stronger with the legend back in the lineup.
San Antonio proved on Friday that it could beat one of the Western Conference's best teams, the Denver Nuggets, without Wembanyama and Castle in a game of serious consequence, but beating the Lakers in their current state without two key players may prove to be a tougher task.
Will New York's Experience Matter Against Toronto?
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The New York Knicks haven't won a title with this current group of players, but they have gained plenty of experience in huge games.
The Knicks advanced to the knockout round of the NBA Cup in 2023 and 2024 and they've played in six playoff series over the last three seasons.
New York at least knows how to approach games like this, especially on the road, where it'll be on December 9 against the Raptors.
The Knicks beat the two toughest teams in East Group C, the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks, in what were considered as elimination games due to their early loss to the Chicago Bulls.
Toronto's been the better team early this season, but the Knicks can bank on their knockout-game experience to potentially take the quarterfinal on the road in a game that should be fairly close.
Can Orlando Continue Incredible Form From Group Stage?
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Orlando swept one of the toughest groups in the NBA Cup.
The Magic took down the Detroit Pistons, who have the best record in the Eastern Conference, as well as the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers.
Most of the NBA Cup achievements were earned without Paolo Banchero. Desmond Bane stepped up alongside Franz Wagner to propel the Magic to a 4-0 group record.
Orlando earned home-court advantage with its sweep of East Group B. That's a huge benefit for the Magic since they are 7-3 at home and the Miami Heat are 4-5 away from south Florida.
The matchup with Miami will be made tougher by Tyler Herro's influence as he continues to ramp up after his injury layoff.
But Orlando proved that it could withstand the challenges of teams with star players throughout the group stage. That resiliency could be its X-factor to book a ticket to Las Vegas.
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