The Emirates NBA Cup 2025: The Battle Continues
The third edition of the Emirates NBA Cup is underway, with the group stage matchups coming to an end this week and the knockout stage matchups beginning to take shape. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were the first to lift the tournament trophy in 2023, with James taking home the tournament MVP honors. Last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks displayed their NBA Cup banner over the eventual NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. But, which team will claim the grand prize in Las Vegas this year and be able to maintain that tournament momentum into the postseason? Here’s everything you need to know about the ongoing tournament, including this year’s rule changes, takeaways from the week’s most important games, the schedule, and the results.Results from November 25th:Wizards 132, Hawks 113 76ers 136, Magic 124 Lakers 135, Clippers 118The Lakers Secure Their Playoff Spot
Los Angeles Lakers, inaugural champions of the NBA Cup, seek to repeat the feat. On Tuesday night, they secured their place in the tournament playoffs. Fueled by a stellar performance from Luka Doncic (43 points, 9 rebounds, and 13 assists, including a 32-point explosion in the first half), along with 31 points from Austin Reaves and 25 points from LeBron James, the Lakers overcame the LA Clippers, becoming the first team in the Western Conference to secure a spot in the NBA Cup playoffs. The game was close for the first three quarters, but the tension increased in the last quarter after a foul by Kris Dunn on Doncic, which led to an altercation between Dunn and the Lakers’ center, Jaxson Hayes, resulting in Dunn’s ejection. The Lakers, with a 13-4 record, tied with the Denver Nuggets for the second-best record in the Western Conference. Securing a spot in the Cup playoffs means that if they win on Friday at home against the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers will be guaranteed a home game in the tournament quarterfinals, giving them an advantage to return to Las Vegas.Surprises in the Eastern Conference
In the Eastern Conference, two resounding victories were experienced, including one of the most surprising results of the season. The Washington Wizards, with a 1-15 record before Tuesday, surprised the Atlanta Hawks, winning 132-113 in a game they led by as much as 29 points, earning their first NBA Cup victory. On the other hand, the Orlando Magic dominated the Philadelphia 76ers, winning 144-103 to advance to 3-0 in the East Group B, setting up a decisive game on Friday in Detroit against the Pistons, leaders of the East. With this victory, the Magic have a scoring margin of +61, the highest of any team in the Eastern Conference and the second best in the NBA, only surpassed by the Oklahoma City Thunder (+63).Overview of the Cup
Teams qualified for the playoffs:- East: Toronto Raptors (Group A Winner)
- West: Los Angeles Lakers (Group B Winner)
What’s at stake on Wednesday
Eastern Group A:
The Raptors have already secured the group and play their last home game against the Indiana Pacers. With a point difference of +53, Toronto could be the main candidate to have the best point difference of any team in the East, and potentially the entire league, before the playoffs.Group B East:
Regardless of what happens in Wednesday’s Pistons-Celtics game in Boston, the winner of Friday’s game in Detroit between the Magic and the Pistons will be the winner of this group. A Pistons victory would also mean that only six teams would be in the fight for the last three spots: Orlando, Detroit, Cleveland, the Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks.Eastern C Group:
The game between the Bucks and the Heat is crucial. A Bucks victory would eliminate the Heat and secure their group if the Knicks lose in Charlotte on Wednesday or if the Bucks win at Madison Square Garden on Friday.West Group A:
The Thunder are practically assured as the best seed in the West with wins over the Timberwolves on Wednesday and the Suns on Friday.West Group B:
The Lakers secured this group with their victory on Tuesday night. If Memphis defeats the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday and the Clippers on Friday, the Grizzlies will have the opportunity to obtain the wildcard.Group C of the West:
If the Portland Trail Blazers beat the San Antonio Spurs at home on Wednesday, they will secure this group.Upcoming Matches
November 26:
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics, 5 p.m. New York Knicks at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m. Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder, 7:30 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans, 8 p.m. Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m.November 28:
Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets, 7:30 p.m. Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia 76ers at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers, 7:30 p.m. Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m. Sacramento Kings at Utah Jazz, 9:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets, 9:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. Memphis Grizzlies at LA Clippers, 10 p.m.
