NBA Cup 2026 Standings, Bracket Predictions After Group Play on Nov. 13

A handful of upsets in Friday's NBA Cup games altered expectations in certain groups.

The New York Knicks fell to the Indiana Pacers in East Group B, a loss that put them at 0-2 with two games to play.

The Chicago Bulls got past the Atlanta Hawks in overtime without their rookie phenom Caleb Wilson. That results shook up the complexion of East Group C, which belongs to the Boston Celtics even more than it did before Friday.

Perhaps the most stunning result of all came from the Los Angeles Clippers, who knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder at home.

OKC isn't out of the running for first place in West Group B yet, but their chances dropped a bit with Friday's surprise loss.

Eastern Conference

A.J. Mast/National Basketball Association via Getty Images

East Group A

1. Orlando (2-0; +15 point differential)
2. Detroit (1-0; +16)
3. Toronto (1-1; +7)
4. Brooklyn (0-1; -16)
5. Milwaukee (0-2; -22)

East Group B

1. Miami (2-0; +32)
2. Cleveland (1-1; +12)
3. Indiana (1-1; -18)
4. Philadelphia (1-1; -19)
5. New York (0-2; -7)

East Group C

1. Boston (2-0; +53)
2. Washington (1-1; +9)
3. Atlanta (1-1; -1)
4. Chicago (1-1; -6)
5. Charlotte (0-2; -55)

The Knicks dropping to 0-2 in East Group B was not expected by anyone.

Jalen Brunson and Co. aren't mathematically eliminated from reaching the knockout round yet, but they'll need to beat the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers and then receive some help to advance.

Both of the Knicks' remaining group-stage games are at home, so there is a chance they try to fight their way back into the knockout-round conversation.

The Philadelphia 76ers were the biggest beneficiary in East Group B on Friday night because now they have a path to winning the group by way of wins over Miami and Indiana and a bit of help.

The Sixers lost to the Cavaliers and beat the Knicks in their first two group-stage games. They'd need Cleveland to lose one more time, which is possible against New York, to avoid losing the group on a head-to-head tiebreaker.

The path is clear in East Groups A and C for the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics to cruise into the knockout round.

Boston's biggest threat appeared to be the Atlanta Hawks, but they fell to the Caleb Wilson-less Chicago Bulls on Friday.

The Celtics get the Hawks at home on November 27 to close out group play. Three days prior, they visit the Washington Wizards. Jayson Tatum and Co. are expected to win both games.

Orlando gets the Detroit Pistons at home on November 24 in the game that will likely decide East Group A.

Detroit is off to an 8-3 start, but the game in Orlando comes at the end of a swing in which the Pistons play five of six on the road. That could play a factor in the November 24 meeting.

Detroit and whichever team finishes second from East Group B will likely battle for the best second-place spot. The Pistons have the chance to run up the score on the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors and secure the better point differential, while most East Group B games are expected to be tight.

Predictions

East Group A - Orlando

East Group B - Philadelphia

East Group C - Boston

Best Second-Place Team - Detroit

Western Conference

Harry How/Getty Images

West Group A

1. Dallas (2-0; +17)
2. Denver (1-0; +7)
3. Houston (1-1; +2)
4. Phoenix (0-1; -7)
5. Utah (0-2; -19)

West Group B

1. Minnesota (2-0; +32)
2. Oklahoma City (1-1; +30)
3. Memphis (1-1; 0)
4. LA Clippers (1-1; -25)
5. New Orleans (0-2; -37)

West Group C

1. San Antonio (2-0; +53)
2. Portland (1-1; +7)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (1-1; -11)
4. Golden State (1-1; -21)
5. Sacramento (0-2; -28)

The Los Angeles Clippers' surprising home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder changed OKC's outlook a bit in West Group B.

OKC gets the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on November 25 in a game many expect to decide first place in West Group B.

The Thunder have to avoid a loss in that contest because they don't have the buffer to advance as the best second-place team anymore. Advancing with two losses, albeit not impossible, is tough in this group-stage format.

Before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. focus on Minnesota, they have to get rid of their current three-game losing streak that also featured back-to-back defeats to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Minnesota's only road trip in the next two weeks is to OKC. The run of home games should allow the Wolves to rest up and build up even more momentum than they already have for the clash in Oklahoma.

West Group A feels like a three-team race between the Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.

Houston visits Denver on Friday for a game it has to win since it already lost to Dallas.

The Nuggets received the luck of the scheduling draw to get the Mavericks and Rockets at home. That could end up being the difference in a tight group.

The San Antonio Spurs are probably going to run away with West Group C. They've already proved they could win big in Portland, which they have to do again in group-stage play on November 25 and then they need to beat the Los Angeles Lakers two days later at home.

If the Blazers and Lakers lose to the Spurs, the best second-place finisher will be down to the West Group A runner-up and Minnesota, if it loses to OKC.

Predictions

West Group A - Denver

West Group B - Oklahoma City

West Group C - San Antonio

Best Second-Place Team - Minnesota