NBA Cup
The wild-card situation at the 2024 NBA Cup explained: Who can qualify?
The Lakers are looking to defend their NBA Cup title as the second edition of the in-season tournament continues.
The second edition of the in-season NBA Cup is well underway with one round of games to play with the tournament drawing inspiration from European soccer leagues, which feature in-season cup competitions.
The format of the tournament remains the same as last year’s inaugural edition, with 30 NBA teams split into six groups—three Eastern and three Western. Each team plays one game against the other four teams in its group. The winner of each of the six groups along with two teams boasting the best record among the non-group winners, will progress to the knockout rounds.
All decided next Tuesday
The final round of group stage games are scheduled for next Tuesday (3 December) and the results will dictate which eight teams complete quarter final lineup.
As things stand, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors have advanced with Milwaukee/Detroit, Orlando/New York well positioned to progress as well with group B in the West wide open with three teams hoping to advance.
Who’s still in contention
Securing a win on Tuesday and amassing a considerable amount of points will be the key objective form many teams with the NBA Cup’s unique point-based tiebreaks keep even faint hopes alive for others.
In the East, nine franchises—including playoff regulars like Miami, Chicago, and Philadelphia—are officially out. In the West, only four teams are completely eliminated: the Timberwolves, Pelicans, Kings, and Jazz. Everyone else, from the Trail Blazers to the Suns, has something to play for.
Looking ahead to the quarterfinals
The quarter finals will take place on 10/11 December with the final stages of the competition moving to Las Vegas with both semi finals taking place on Saturday, 14 December with the final scheduled for three days later at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the current NBA Cup holders beating Indiana Pacers 123-109 in the inaugural final.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.