NBA Cup 2024: The knockout round is here! Let's break down the juicy quarterfinal matchups

After an alternately thrilling and complicated group stage, the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup 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 along with it — your mileage might differ on simply how “ceaselessly” that exact flag flies — and, after all, for the estimable stacks of chilly, arduous money that await the winners.

Earlier than our quarterfinal quartet suggestions off, let’s reset the desk as we return to our irregularly scheduled event, already in progress:

The place we left off

We detailed that frantic ultimate night of group-stage play, 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 towards the Grizzlies to maintain their hopes alive … and so they did simply that. Behind a monster ultimate body pushed by the playmaking of Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, scorching taking pictures 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 had 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 — had been instantly doubtful. Fears of a complete collapse proved untimely, although, because the Magic clawed again to a decent sufficient ultimate 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 greatest data this 12 months (Oklahoma Metropolis and Houston).

Within the East: a latest NBA champion led by one of many biggest gamers ever (Milwaukee); one workforce that boasts one of many NBA’s most devastating offenses (New York); one other that options one in all its most suffocating defenses (Orlando); and the one workforce within the NBA to knock off each the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers (twice) this season (Atlanta).

All informed: a reasonably enjoyable bunch!

What to know concerning the quarterfinal matchups

(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 to this point: a dismal 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 land the East’s No. 1 seed.

This Milwaukee workforce 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 various rotation items, and many others. The Bucks stay harmful, although, for one quite simple purpose: They’ve Giannis Antetokounmpo — taking part in arguably the perfect ball 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.

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have each confirmed able to dominating early this season; they’re additionally, considerably oddly, now each on the shelf with torn indirect muscle groups. The Magic have struggled mightily with out them, scoring simply 102.7 factors per 100 possessions in minutes with out both of their major playmakers on the ground — a league-worst stage of offensive manufacturing.

Jamahl Mosley’s always-tough protection will proceed to make Milwaukee work for the whole lot it will get. Jalen Suggs should constantly puncture the Bucks’ porous perimeter protection, and Orlando’s bigs should create further possessions on the offensive glass towards a Bucks frontline that ranks sixth in defensive rebounding price. If they will’t, the Magic may need a tough time matching firepower with an Antetokounmpo-and-Damian Lillard-led offense that’s been a top-10 unit over the previous month.

(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 dropping ascendant massive man Chet Holmgren to a fractured hip. Dallas has been even hotter, profitable 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 high 10 on each side of the ball, together with the Celtics, Cavaliers and Grizzlies; it is a matchup between two of probably the most balanced, hardest and imposing groups the league has to supply.

It’s additionally a rematch of a wonderful 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 recreation got here in the course of the Thunder’s injury-fueled shift to super-small-ball. Since 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein got here again from a fractured hand, Oklahoma Metropolis has gained seven of eight, outscoring opponents by 12.2 factors per 100 possessions total — and by a whopping 17.7 points-per-100 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 technique 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 little bit sizzle with their steak, we proudly current: Trae Younger in Manhattan.

Each groups have modified dramatically since that ceremonial bow again in 2021. After its massive swing on Dejounte Murray missed, the Hawks have pivoted towards lengthy, dynamic athletes — together with Dyson Daniels, the NBA chief in steals; No. 1 choose Zaccharie Risacher, holding his personal as a 19-year-old starter; and rising star Jalen Johnson, who averaged 20-12-7 in group play — to insulate Younger on protection and end his feeds on offense. To this point, so good: Younger’s main the NBA in assists, the Hawks have a league-average protection for the primary time in 4 years, and Atlanta has racked up some spectacular wins … together with one over New York, with Risacher scoring 33 factors.

Since that loss, the Knicks have posted the East’s greatest web ranking. Propelling that rise to the highest of the effectivity leaderboard: an offense that not solely leads the NBA in factors scored per possession, however that ranks as probably the most potent assaults for the reason that ABA-NBA merger in 1976.

Tom Haberstroh and I dug into how importing Karl-Anthony Cities to pair with Jalen Brunson has supercharged New York’s offense on The Large Quantity:

As overwhelming because the offense has been, although, the Knicks’ protection, which sits seventeenth 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 energy of an uncompromising protection that suffocates opponents into turnovers … which, in flip, kickstarts a surprisingly sturdy Houston offense that thrives on attacking in transition, producing second-chance alternatives and dealing its technique to the free-throw line.

It’s a must to win the possession battle that method if you’re one of many worst taking pictures groups within the NBA … and Houston didn’t win it within the Bay final week, falling to a Warriors workforce that was lacking each Stephen Curry and Draymond Inexperienced as a result of Golden State reduce off the Rockets’ offensive oxygen:

Curry and Inexperienced ought to each be on the ground towards Houston on Wednesday. The Warriors have blitzed opponents by 11.4 points-per-100 with the 2 franchise cornerstones on the court docket. No matter else has seemed shaky with Steve Kerr’s membership — specifically, the offense each time Steph sits down, because the seek for a No. 2 scorer continues — when Steph and Draymond are on the market, Golden State’s bought a shot towards anyone.

Will that dynastic partnership run the Warriors’ profitable streak over the Rockets to 16 straight? Or will Houston bounce again from final week’s loss to the Dubs — which head coach Ime Udoka known as “one in all our softest video games since I’ve been right here, for certain” — by exerting its collective will and physicality to safe a spot within the semis?

What comes subsequent?

The 4 winners of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s single-elimination quarterfinal video games will advance to Las Vegas, the place the semifinals might be held on Saturday. The championship recreation for the NBA Cup will happen Tuesday, Dec. 17.

That championship recreation would be the just one in all the event that gained’t additionally rely towards individuals’ regular-season document and statistics. For these two groups, it is going to rely as Recreation 83. The 4 groups that lose within the quarterfinals will every play one regular-season recreation towards 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 higher spoils, with the event champion taking dwelling the largest financial institution.

For the inaugural in-season event, 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 workforce that loses within the ultimate recreation; and a crisp $500,000 for everybody on the workforce that hoists the NBA Cup. The mathematics’s a little bit wonkier this 12 months, due to a passage within the collective bargaining settlement between the NBA and its gamers union stipulating that these prize payouts rise by a “development issue” tied to any enhance within the basketball-related earnings (BRI) that the league generates.

BRI went up from final season to this one; ergo, so have the payouts:

Granted: not fairly as clear as all these zeroes on final 12 months’s winnings. By some means, although, I don’t assume the gamers will thoughts.