After an alternately thrilling and group stage, the now strikes on to the knockout rounds. Eight groups, 4 from every convention, will compete in quarterfinal contests on Tuesday and Wednesday for the best to maneuver on to the semifinals in Las Vegas, the place they’ll have the prospect to compete for the NBA Cup, for no matter bragging rights go together with it — your mileage could fluctuate on simply how “forever” flies — and, after all, for the estimable stacks of chilly, laborious money that await the winners.
Earlier than our quarterfinal quartet ideas off, let’s reset the desk as we return to our irregularly scheduled match, already in progress:
We detailed that , with 13 groups vying for the ultimate 5 spots within the knockout spherical.
There was drama in Dallas, the place the Mavericks needed to roar again from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit in opposition to the Grizzlies to maintain their hopes alive … and so they did simply that. Behind a monster remaining body pushed by the playmaking of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, sizzling capturing from P.J. Washington and Spencer Dinwiddie, and a disastrous five-turnover, 15-foul stanza from Memphis, the Mavs overtook the Grizz, edging out the at-that-point-still-alive Suns and Path Blazers to land the West’s wild-card spot.
There was intrigue in Manhattan, the place the Knicks have been beating the brakes off the Magic to such a level that the guests’ probabilities of securing a knockout spot — beforehand deemed all however a lock, as Orlando entered with a league-high +60 level differential — have been immediately doubtful. Fears of a complete collapse proved untimely, although, because the Magic clawed again to a good sufficient remaining margin to make sure that each individuals in that finale superior — the Knicks because the winners of Group A, and the Magic because the East’s wild card.
By the point the night ended, we had our eight.
Within the West: the defending Western Convention champions (Dallas); a latest NBA champion led by one of many biggest gamers ever (Golden State); and the groups with the convention’s two finest information this yr (Oklahoma Metropolis and Houston).
Within the East: a latest NBA champion led by one of many biggest gamers ever (Milwaukee); one group that boasts one of many NBA’s (New York); one other that options considered one of its most suffocating defenses (Orlando); and the one group within the NBA to knock off each the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers (twice) this season (Atlanta).
All instructed: a fairly enjoyable bunch!
(4) MAGIC AT (1) BUCKS — TUESDAY, 7 P.M. ET (TNT)
Magic: East wild card, 3-1 document, +45 level differential (W vs. Hornets, W vs. 76ers, W at Nets, L at Knicks)
Bucks: East Group B winner, 4-0 document, +50 level differential (W vs. Raptors, W vs. Pacers, W at Warmth, W at Pistons)
It’s been a story of two seasons for the Bucks so far: a 2-8 begin marked by disjointed offense and ghastly point-of-attack protection, adopted by a 9-1 stretch that includes 4 group-stage wins to .
This Milwaukee group hasn’t seemed as formidable as its predecessors, with head coach Doc Rivers shuffling the deck looking for solutions: sliding defense-first wing Andre Jackson Jr. into the beginning lineup, discovering extra minutes for sharpshooter A.J. Inexperienced, attempting to climate shaky begins from numerous rotation items, and so forth. The Bucks stay harmful, although, for one quite simple cause: They’ve Giannis Antetokounmpo — taking part in of a profession that already consists of two MVP trophies — and also you don’t.
That guarantees to be a troublesome problem for the Magic, who’ve been one of many NBA’s hottest groups over the previous month, however who enter lacking each of their star forwards.
and have each confirmed able to dominating early this season; they’re additionally, considerably oddly, now each on the shelf with muscle tissue. The Magic have struggled mightily with out them, scoring simply in minutes with out both of their major playmakers on the ground — a league-worst degree of offensive manufacturing.
Jamahl Mosley’s always-tough protection will proceed to make Milwaukee work for every part it will get. Jalen Suggs must constantly puncture the Bucks’ porous perimeter protection, and Orlando’s bigs must create additional possessions on the offensive glass in opposition to a Bucks frontline that ranks . If they will’t, the Magic might need a tough time matching firepower with an Antetokounmpo-and-Damian Lillard-led offense that’s been a top-10 unit .
(4) MAVERICKS AT (1) THUNDER — TUESDAY, 9:30 P.M. ET (TNT)
Mavericks: West wild card, 3-1 document, +46 level differential (L at Warriors, W vs. Pelicans, W at Nuggets, W vs. Grizzlies)
Thunder: West Group B winner, 3-1 document, +45 level differential (W vs. Suns, L at Spurs, W at Lakers, W vs. Jazz)
Oklahoma Metropolis enters the Tuesday tilt having gained 10 of its final 13 since shedding huge man Chet Holmgren to a . Dallas has been even hotter, successful seven straight and 11 of 12, even with MVP candidate Luka Dončić lacking a half-dozen of these contests. The Thunder and Mavericks are two of 5 groups that rank within the , together with the Celtics, Cavaliers and Grizzlies; this can be a matchup between two of essentially the most balanced, hardest and imposing groups the league has to supply.
It’s additionally a rematch of a superb collection from the second spherical of the 2024 NBA playoffs, which noticed Dallas take out the higher-seeded Thunder in six video games, thanks largely to complementary Mavericks forwards P.J. Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. having the shot-making collection of their lives. Jones is gone, however Washington’s nonetheless round … and nonetheless torturing OKC, as evidenced by his 27-point, 17-rebound efficiency in Dallas’ win over the Thunder final month:
That sport got here through the Thunder’s injury-fueled shift to . Since 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein got here again from a fractured hand, Oklahoma Metropolis has gained seven of eight, outscoring opponents by total — and by a whopping with Hartenstein, its high free-agent addition, on the ground.
The playoff loss to Dallas spurred OKC’s addition of Hartenstein and Alex Caruso. Now, we get an opportunity to see whether or not these acquisitions have sufficiently plugged the Thunder’s few structural holes across the star perimeter tandem of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams … and whether or not Dallas’ personal dynamic duo, Dončić and Irving, can discover a solution to punch some new ones.
(3) HAWKS AT (2) KNICKS — WEDNESDAY, 7 P.M. ET (ESPN)
Hawks: East Group C winner, 3-1 document, +15 level differential (W at Celtics, W vs. Wizards, L at Bulls, W vs. Cavaliers)
Knicks: East Group A winner, 4-0 document, +30 level differential (W at 76ers, W vs. Nets, W at Hornets, W vs. Magic)
For individuals who crave a bit of sizzle with their steak, we proudly current: .
Each groups have modified dramatically since that ceremonial bow again in 2021. After its huge swing on Dejounte Murray missed, the Hawks have towards lengthy, dynamic athletes — together with Dyson Daniels, the ; No. 1 decide Zaccharie Risacher, holding his personal as a 19-year-old starter; and Jalen Johnson, who averaged in group play — to insulate Younger on protection and end his feeds on offense. To date, so good: Younger’s , the Hawks have a league-average protection for the primary time , and Atlanta has racked up some spectacular wins … together with one over New York, with Risacher .
Since that loss, the Knicks have posted . Propelling that rise to the highest of the effectivity leaderboard: an offense that not solely , however that ranks as one of the potent assaults .
Tom Haberstroh and I dug into how importing Karl-Anthony Cities to pair with Jalen Brunson has supercharged New York’s offense on :
As overwhelming because the offense has been, although, the Knicks’ protection, which sits in factors allowed per possession, has simply been … um … whelming.
If Younger can get the Knicks off-balance and on their heels early, he might put himself in place to take one other bow at MSG — this time, for forcing New York to bow out of its bid for the NBA Cup.
(3) WARRIORS AT (2) ROCKETS — WEDNESDAY, 9:30 P.M. ET (ESPN)
Warriors: West Group C winner, 3-1 document, +8 level differential, (W at Mavericks, W vs. Grizzlies, W at Pelicans, L at Nuggets)
Rockets: West Group A winner, 3-1 document, +40 level differential (W vs. Clippers, W vs. Path Blazers, W at Timberwolves, L at Kings)
The Rockets have soared to inside arm’s attain of the highest spot within the West on the power of an that suffocates opponents into turnovers … which, in flip, kickstarts a that thrives on attacking in transition, producing second-chance alternatives and dealing its solution to the free-throw line.
You need to win the possession battle that means once you’re one of many worst capturing groups within the NBA … and Houston didn’t win it within the Bay final week, to a Warriors group that was lacking each Stephen Curry and Draymond Inexperienced as a result of Golden State reduce off the Rockets’ offensive oxygen:
Whereas it is true that me writing a few group curses it, on this case, the curse was GSW:
• maintaining HOU off the glass (season-low offensive rebound charge);
• taking good care of the ball (Third-lowest opp. turnover charge); and
• defending with out fouling (Fifth-lowest FT try charge)
Curry and Inexperienced ought to each be on the ground in opposition to Houston on Wednesday. The Warriors have with the 2 franchise cornerstones on the courtroom. No matter else has seemed shaky with Steve Kerr’s membership — particularly, , because the seek for a No. 2 scorer continues — when Steph and Draymond are on the market, Golden State’s bought a shot in opposition to anyone.
Will that dynastic partnership run the Warriors’ successful streak over the Rockets to ? Or will Houston bounce again from final week’s loss to the Dubs — which head coach Ime Udoka referred to as — by exerting its collective will and physicality to safe a spot within the semis?
The 4 winners of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s single-elimination quarterfinal video games will advance to Las Vegas, the place the semifinals will probably be held on Saturday. The championship sport for the NBA Cup will happen Tuesday, Dec. 17.
That championship sport would be the just one in the whole match that gained’t additionally rely towards individuals’ regular-season document and statistics. For these two groups, it is going to rely as Sport 83. The 4 groups that lose within the quarterfinals will every play one regular-season sport in opposition to each other, too, with the video games approaching Dec. 12, 13, 15 or 16.
Making the quarterfinals ensures each participant on the taking part groups a payout; to the winners, although, go better spoils, with the match champion taking dwelling the largest financial institution.
For the inaugural in-season match, the prize pool operated in good spherical numbers: $50,000 for every participant on groups that lose within the quarterfinals; $100,000 for gamers on groups that lose within the semifinals; $200,000 for gamers on the group that loses within the remaining sport; and a crisp $500,000 for everybody on the group that hoists the NBA Cup. The maths’s a bit of wonkier this yr, because of a passage within the stipulating that these prize payouts rise by a “growth factor” tied to any improve within the basketball-related revenue (BRI) that the league generates.
BRI went up from final season to this one; ergo, so have the payouts:
NBA Cup prize cash will increase for 2024:Gamers on successful group of championship: $514,970 eachPlayers on shedding group of championship: $205,988 eachPlayers on shedding group of semifinals: $102,994 eachPlayers on shedding group of quarterfinals: $51,497 every
Granted: not fairly as clear as all these zeroes on final yr’s winnings. Someway, although, I don’t suppose the gamers will thoughts.
