This is the result each team needs on Tuesday to qualify for the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup

Tuesday’s NBA Cup matchups will finalize the quarterfinal lineup, as eight teams battle for five remaining spots. With the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors already advancing, every point in these games will count as teams vie for either group supremacy or the coveted wildcard slot. Here’s how it all shakes out.

Eastern Conference: high stakes for Group A and B leaders

Knicks vs Magic decides Group A supremacy

The Knicks and Magic are both undefeated (3-0), but only one can claim the top spot. Orlando’s impressive +60 point differential gives them an edge in tiebreak scenarios, so the Knicks must not only win but win decisively to guarantee a direct spot. Meanwhile, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Charlotte are mathematically eliminated, leaving their final games as mere formality.

Pistons vs Bucks: the showdown for Group B

Milwaukee (+29) and Detroit (+28) are neck and neck in Group B, making their Tuesday clash the definitive match for first place. Miami (2-2, +20) has a slim chance at a wildcard but needs the Bucks or Pistons to falter badly. Indiana and Toronto are already out, along with most calculators trying to crunch the Heat’s wildcard odds.

Wildcard hopefuls need big swings

Boston (3-1, +23) lurks as a wildcard contender in Group C, with Atlanta already taking the top spot. For Boston to advance, they need Knicks-Magic and Bucks-Pistons outcomes that favor their point differential—ideally, tight losses for both second-place teams. Any Knicks win by 38 or more against the Magic would spell disaster for Orlando’s wildcard hopes, leaving the Celtics as potential beneficiaries.

Western Conference: a wildcard free-for-all

Group B chaos with Suns, Spurs, and Thunder

Group B is anyone’s game heading into Tuesday. The San Antonio Spurs control their destiny; a win over Phoenix guarantees their spot. If the Suns prevail and Oklahoma City beats Utah, the Thunder would secure first place while the Suns pivot to wildcard calculations. The Lakers’ elimination removes last year’s champions from the mix, leaving these three teams to sort out the final standings.

Mavericks holding the wildcard edge

In Group C, the Warriors (3-0, +12) are in, but Dallas (2-1, +41) holds a commanding lead for the wildcard slot. If the Mavericks beat Memphis, their strong point differential would make it almost impossible for other second-place teams to catch them. Denver, Memphis, and even Portland cling to slim hopes, but it’s effectively win-or-go-home for all three.

Eliminated teams and who’s still alive

While some teams have already secured flights back to regular-season focus, 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 done: the Timberwolves, Pelicans, Kings, and Jazz. Everyone else, from the Trail Blazers to the Suns, has something to play for.

What to watch on Tuesday

Keep your eyes on the high-stakes matchups that will define this year’s quarterfinalists:

By Wednesday morning, the quarterfinals will be set, with some teams celebrating their point differential wizardry and others lamenting a few ill-timed missed shots. For now, every bucket counts.

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