Milwaukee, New York, Orlando, Oklahoma City and Dallas qualified for the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup on the last day of the group stage, Tuesday, December 3.
These teams join the Atlanta Hawks, the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, already qualified for the rest of the 2e edition of this competition, the matches of which also count for the regular season. The quarters are scheduled for December 10 and 11 with a dry match.
The Knicks teach Orlando a lesson
The New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic, who had both won their first three games in this competition created last season, were vying for first place in the group in Madison Square Garden.
Despite the last few unconvincing outings, New York taught the Floridians a lesson (121-106), with a 20-point lead at half-time, and a gap which climbed to 37 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns (23 points, 15 rebounds) and Jalen Brunson (21 points) ruled the game, facing Franz Wagner’s 30 points.
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Despite its defeat, Orlando also managed to qualify for the quarterfinals by taking the “wild card” from the Eastern Conference, awarded to the team with the best record except the first three in the group.
Thanks to a good start to the tournament, the Magic maintained an advantage in point difference (+45) against the Boston Celtics (+23) and the Detroit Pistons (+7), all with the same record (3 wins – 1 defeat).
Milwaukee Revers
After a failed start to the season and rumors sending Giannis Antetokounmpo onto the transfer market, the Milwaukee Bucks are reborn as winter approaches and won against Detroit (128-107) their 9e success in 10 matches.
The Bucks and the Pistons, also undefeated in the NBA Cup, were fighting for a ticket to the quarters, but Milwaukee quickly extinguished the suspense with a 19-point lead at halftime.
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Antetokounmpo set the pace (28 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists), followed by Damian Lillard (27 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists) for an easy success against Cade Cunningham’s Pistons (23 points).
San Antonio rate at chance
San Antonio needed to win against Phoenix to qualify but the Spurs fell to the Suns 104-93. Victor Wembanyama and his teammates never found the key or led the score. The Frenchman, in very good shape in recent days, missed his first period (0 points to 0 out of 7 shooting at the break), before finally scoring 15 points (13 rebounds, 7 assists).
Named best defender in the Western Conference for the month of November, “Wemby” saw Devin Booker blaze (29 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) for the Suns.
Phoenix, with the same record as Oklahoma City, sees the Thunder pass it for qualification with a large success against Utah (133-106). The Dallas Mavericks of Luka Doncic (37 points), winners against Memphis (121-116), win the “wild card” in the West.
Cleveland keeps the pace
Already eliminated from the NBA Cup, the Cleveland Cavaliers consolidated their first place in the Eastern Conference with an easy 118-87 success against the Washington Wizards, who took a 15e reverse.
Seven players scored more than 10 points for a collective effort in Cleveland (19 wins – 3 losses). Bilal Coulibaly had 6 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, Alexandre Sarr 10 points and 9 rebounds for Washington.
In Charlotte, Paul George equaled his best scoring performance since his arrival this summer with the 76ers from Philadelphia, with 29 points and 8 assists, and a success against the Hornets (110-104). Tyrese Maxey (21 points, 7 assists) shone at the end of the game, as did French interior Guerschon Yabusele (7 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists).
The NBA Cup quarter-finals
Milwaukee versus Orlando
New York vs. Atlanta
Oklahoma City vs. Dallas
Houston vs. Golden State
