The 2025 NBA Emirates Cup: The Battle for the Trophy Continues
The third edition of the NBA Emirates Cup is underway, with the group stage coming to an end this week and the knockout round matchups taking shape. Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, won the inaugural tournament trophy in 2023, with James being recognized as the tournament MVP. Last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks raised their NBA Cup banner over the eventual NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. What team will take the title in Las Vegas this year, and will they be able to maintain the momentum of the tournament in the postseason? Here’s everything you need to know about the in-season tournament, including rule changes for this year, highlights from the week’s most important matches, the schedule, and the results.Wednesday’s Match Analysis
Eastern Groups
The most prominent game in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday was played in Florida, where the Miami Heat achieved their sixth consecutive victory, surviving a late scare against the Milwaukee Bucks to stand at a 3-1 record in Group C. Tyler Herro, in his second game after offseason ankle surgery, scored 29 points on 9 of 15 shooting, while centers Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware combined for 28 points and 20 rebounds. Simultaneously, the New York Knicks enjoyed a resounding victory in Charlotte, advancing to 2-1 in the Cup. Heat, Bucks and Knicks remain in the fight for the Group C title as they enter the final day of the group stage on Friday.These results also ensure that Group C will end with two teams with a 3-1 record (Heat and the winner of Friday’s Bucks-Knicks game), so all Eastern Conference teams with two losses were eliminated on Wednesday: Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, and Chicago Bulls.
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West Groups
Regardless of whether it’s the NBA Cup, it’s difficult to surpass the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wednesday’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves put Oklahoma City at an 18-1 record this season, continuing their best start since the Golden State Warriors achieved 73 wins a decade ago. More relevant for now, the Thunder have a 3-0 record in the NBA Cup, while the Timberwolves were practically eliminated with their second defeat.Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns also improved to 3-0 in Group A. With a 22-point lead at halftime in Sacramento, the Suns couldn’t maintain that big advantage, which could be important given the importance of point differential as a tiebreaker. They settled for a 12-point victory over the Kings.
The most important game of the Western Cup of the night saw the Portland Trail Blazers go for an improbable finish at the top of Group C, receiving the San Antonio Spurs with the possibility of securing a place in the quarterfinals. With 37 points, his season-high, from De’Aaron Fox, his best mark since being traded to San Antonio, the Spurs played the role of party poopers in Portland and prepared for a win-or-in scenario on Friday. The Memphis Grizzlies cannot win Group B, which was secured on Tuesday by the Los Angeles Lakers, but overcoming the New Orleans Pelicans in overtime thanks to Zach Edey’s 21 points and 15 rebounds kept their slim hopes of obtaining the West wildcard spot alive.Results from November 26th
- Boston Celtics 117, Detroit Pistons 114
- New York Knicks 129, Charlotte Hornets 101
- Toronto Raptors 97, Indiana Pacers 95
- Oklahoma City Thunder 113, Minnesota Timberwolves 105
- Miami Heat 106, Milwaukee Bucks 103
- Memphis Grizzlies 133, New Orleans Pelicans 128
- Houston Rockets 104, Golden State Warriors 100
- San Antonio Spurs 115, Portland Trail Blazers 102
- Phoenix Suns 112, Sacramento Kings 100
Upcoming Key Matches
The Raptors remain the only team in the Eastern Conference to have secured a playoff spot, and six teams are vying for the final three spots. In Detroit, the Pistons and the Magic will face off for a place in the quarterfinals, as the winner of the match will take the title of Group B. Detroit would be eliminated with a defeat, while Orlando could still secure the only wild card spot in the East with a narrow defeat, thanks to the Magic’s +61 point difference after three games. The Group C resolution could be a bit more complicated. If Milwaukee wins in New York on Friday, then the Heat will win the group, because Miami and Milwaukee would have 3-1 records and Miami has the tiebreaker due to head-to-head matchups. The Bucks would have difficulty getting the wildcard in that scenario, as their point differential in the Cup is only +13 entering their last game. However, if New York beats the Bucks at home, then the Knicks will advance because they have the tiebreaker over Miami, thanks to a win in the head-to-head earlier this month. In that case, the Heat, which now has a point differential of +49, would have a reasonable chance of advancing through the wildcard.Finally, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ trip to Atlanta involves Cup stakes. The Cavaliers have accumulated a point difference of +33 on their way to a 2-1 record in the Cup, and a resounding victory over the Hawks, or a victory of any size, if the Magic beat the Pistons and the Bucks win but don’t rout the Knicks, could give them the wild card spot.
