Get ready for some jaw-dropping NBA action because the Cup quarterfinals are heating up! The defending champions are out, and the East bracket is set for some epic showdowns. But here's where it gets controversial: could this be the year an underdog takes the trophy? Let’s dive in.
The NBA Cup quarterfinals are officially taking shape, with the Miami Heat facing the Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks battling the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference. These matchups promise intense competition, but they also come with a twist. The Milwaukee Bucks, last year’s champions, won’t be defending their title after a 118-109 loss to the Knicks on Friday night. New York secured the final spot in the East by topping Group C, leaving the Bucks in the dust.
Knicks coach Mike Brown praised his team’s resilience: ‘I told the guys they did a heck of a job finding a way.’ Meanwhile, the Magic and Raptors dominated their groups with flawless 4-0 records, setting the stage for what could be the most exciting quarterfinals yet.
And this is the part most people miss: the quarterfinal games count toward the regular season, creating a scheduling quirk. For instance, the Heat and Magic will face off five times this season—a rarity not seen since 1993-94. Similarly, the Knicks and Raptors will meet five times. The Heat will play in Orlando on December 5th for a regular-season game, only to return a few days later for the Cup quarterfinal. Talk about familiarity breeding contempt—or maybe just great basketball!
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley couldn’t hide his excitement: ‘We’re so happy to be home. We have some of the best fans in the NBA. They’re going to be back there, supporting us, ready to go. For us to do this is very special for our guys right now.’ Orlando’s Desmond Bane echoed the sentiment: ‘We’re building something special.’
Out West, the Los Angeles Lakers—last year’s inaugural Cup winners—were the only team guaranteed a quarterfinal spot heading into Friday. The remaining spots were up for grabs, adding another layer of intrigue to the tournament.
But here’s the real question: With the Bucks out, is this anyone’s game? The quarterfinals are set for December 9th or 10th, with the semifinals in Las Vegas on December 13th. The championship game, which doesn’t count toward the regular-season standings, will crown a new winner on December 16th.
For the 22 teams that miss the quarterfinals, it’s not all bad news. They’ll each get two additional regular-season games to reach the full 82, scheduled for December 11th, 12th, 14th, or 15th. Quarterfinal losers will face off against another loser from their conference to fill their final game slot.
Let’s talk money—because who doesn’t love a good payout? Quarterfinal players will pocket $53,903, with the amount doubling to $106,187 for semifinalists. Finalists take home $212,373, and the winning team’s players split a whopping $530,933. Two-way players receive half these amounts, if applicable.
So, what do you think? Can the Magic or Knicks make a deep run? Is this the year an underdog steals the spotlight? Let us know in the comments—we’re all ears!
