The reigning NBA champion made a significant impact on the 2024 NBA Cup during a tense showdown on Tuesday night. The Boston Celtics handed the Cleveland Cavaliers their first loss of the 2024-25 season, leveling their pool play record at 1-1. Boston had previously fallen to the Atlanta Hawks in pool play, necessitating consecutive wins and some assistance to secure the top spot in East Group C. In an unexpected twist in West Group B, the San Antonio Spurs emerged victorious against the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite being without their star player Victor Wembanyama. The Los Angeles Lakers currently lead West Group B, but this surprising outcome could bolster the Spurs' chances of advancing.
Group standings show the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks leading East Group A with undefeated records. On Tuesday, the Brooklyn Nets secured their first victory of the NBA Cup campaign, keeping their hopes alive in East Group A and dropping the Charlotte Hornets to 0-2. This Friday, the Nets will face the Philadelphia 76ers, with both teams eager to improve their standings. Meanwhile, the Magic and Knicks remain the frontrunners in the group, with their matchup scheduled for December 3 at Madison Square Garden.
In East Group B, no games took place on Tuesday, but attention turns to a crucial matchup on Friday as the Indiana Pacers travel to contest the Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana, in a precarious position in the group, seeks to remain competitive, while the Bucks look to climb higher in the standings with a second win. The return of Damian Lillard from concussion protocol should bolster Milwaukee's performance against Indiana.
The outcome of the Celtics' game against the Cavaliers has recalibrated the dynamics in East Group C. The Celtics now hold a slight advantage over the Cavaliers in the standings due to a head-to-head tiebreaker, despite a lower point differential. Boston's loss to the Hawks complicates their path to success, putting further emphasis on the upcoming matchup between the Hawks and Cavaliers, as a Hawks win could create further chaos within the group. Both Atlanta and Boston will seek to improve their point differentials in their next games against the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards, respectively.
West Group A is set for a pivotal day on Friday, with the Los Angeles Clippers facing off against the Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets welcoming the Portland Trail Blazers. Both Houston and Portland look to establish a comfortable lead within the tightly contested group, while the Kings and Clippers strive to stay in contention. The Rockets’ upcoming matches against the Timberwolves and Sacramento will be critical as they wrap up group play.
In West Group B, the Los Angeles Lakers maintained their dominance after defeating the Utah Jazz, benefiting from Dalton Knecht's impressive 37-point performance. The Spurs, led by Chris Paul's double-double, managed to upset the Thunder, contributing to an intriguing contest brewing between the Lakers and Oklahoma City on November 29. The Thunder need to address defensive vulnerabilities exposed in their loss to San Antonio to regain momentum.
Meanwhile, in West Group C, both the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets secured essential wins on Tuesday night. The Mavericks triumphed over the New Orleans Pelicans with a commanding 132-91 victory, while Denver capitalized on Russell Westbrook's triple-double to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies. Their upcoming matchup will be crucial as the winner will emerge as the primary challenger to the Golden State Warriors in the group. Golden State, needing a win against New Orleans on Friday to solidify their standing, will also look ahead to a critical encounter with Denver on December 3.
