From my article in French on Seneweb.
NBA Cup knockout bracket
NEW YORK — The NBA Cup knockout bracket is set, with a nearly completely revamped field compared to last year.
The Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks are the only teams among the eight qualified this year that also reached the knockout stages of the in-season tournament last year.
The New York Knicks secured their spot after a 121-106 win against the Orlando Magic Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Their team play and selflessness, praised by coach Tom Thibodeau and player Josh Hart, were key to their success. Led by Karl-Anthony Towns (23 points, 15 rebounds) and Jalen Brunson (21 points), the Knicks maintained their perfect 4-0 record in the Eastern Group A.
Though defeated, the Magic (3-1) still advanced to the quarterfinals as a wildcard from the Eastern Conference. Franz Wagner led the effort with 30 points, while his brother Moritz Wagner contributed 20 points off the bench.
What is the NBA Cup?
Introduced last year, the NBA Cup is an in-season tournament designed to generate fan interest during the early phase of the season and provide a new competitive format for the teams. The tournament begins with a group stage where teams compete for qualification. The best teams from each group, along with select wildcards, advance to the quarterfinals. Starting on December 11, the quarterfinals will mark the beginning of the knockout phase. Each victory is critical to winning the title, with a loss resulting in immediate elimination. Winning moves a team forward to the semifinals and potentially the finals. This format increases intensity and suspense around every game, offering an additional challenge for players while captivating fans.
In addition to the honor of winning this inaugural trophy, the champion team will receive $500,000 per player, a significant reward, especially for younger players and those with more modest contracts, providing extra motivation for all teams involved.
After their victory, Josh Hart joked with teammate Jalen Brunson in the locker room, wondering how he might spend the money he’d win from the NBA Cup. “What can I do to spend the money we’ll win? I think I’ll buy myself a new watch, or maybe a car,” he laughed. However, beyond the joke, Hart emphasized that this tournament is also an important opportunity for more experienced players to guide and support younger recruits, thus strengthening team spirit and integrating new teammates.
Los Angeles Lakers Eliminated
The defending champions, LeBron’s Los Angeles Lakers, were eliminated in the group stage and failed to qualify for the quarterfinals this year.
The Eight Qualified Teams
The eight teams that have qualified for the quarterfinals are ready to compete: the New York Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Orlando Magic from the Eastern Conference, along with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors, and the Dallas Mavericks from the Western Conference.
Next Steps
The quarterfinals will take place next week: the Magic will face the Bucks, and the Thunder will host the Mavericks on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Hawks will travel to New York to play the Knicks, while the Rockets will host the Warriors. The winners will then head to Las Vegas for the semifinals and finals.
With teams like the Lakers, the previous edition’s champions, already eliminated, the competition is wide open and promises thrilling matchups.
