This Week in the NBA Cup: Knockout Games Begin

This Week in the NBA Cup: Knockout Games Begin

The NBA In-Season Tournament, also called the NBA Cup, is a special event that happens in the middle of the regular season. It helps make early games feel more exciting. All 30 teams began the tournament by playing group games during October and November. These games help decide which teams move on, and most of them also count toward the regular-season standings. After group play finished, only eight teams earned a spot in the next round.

How the Tournament Works

Teams were placed into groups and played several games against each other. The three best teams in each conference moved on, and one more team from each conference made it as a wild card. The wild card goes to the second-place team with the best record. This keeps the tournament close and competitive until the very end.

The Knockout Round

This week begins the knockout round, which is the most exciting part of the NBA Cup. The quarterfinals are on December 9 and 10. These games are single elimination, meaning if your team loses, they are out. The higher-seeded team also gets to play at home, which can give them an advantage.

The winners move on to Las Vegas for the semifinals on December 13. The championship game will be played on December 16 at T-Mobile Arena to decide the first NBA Cup winner of the year.

In the East, the Magic, Raptors, Knicks, and Heat are still fighting for the Cup. The Magic lean on young stars Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs who give them strong defense. The Knicks are powered by Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges, making them one of the toughest teams left. The Raptors count on Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett, a trio that brings scoring, size, and energy. The Heat stay competitive thanks to Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, and their young players like Kel’el Ware continue to grow.

Four teams from the West also remain: the Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, and Suns. The Thunder are the reigning champions, young and fast. The Lakers depend on Luka Dončić while LeBron James ages. The Spurs are built around rising superstar Victor Wembanyama. The Suns rely on Devin Booker and their young players after major changes to the roster.

What’s at Stake This Week

The winning team earns the NBA Cup trophy and becomes the in-season champion for 2025. Players and coaches also earn bonus money for advancing. Because almost all tournament games also count toward the regular season, teams are trying to win the Cup and improve their playoff position at the same time. This makes knockout week one of the most exciting times of the whole season.