Patryk Stachowiak
“I think $500,000 will motivate just about anyone.” Lakers forward Jake LaRavia didn’t mince words when asked how seriously players approach NBA Cup games. With a quarterfinal berth on the line, the Lakers and Clippers collide in a high-stakes showdown on NBA Coast 2 Coast this Tuesday night on NBC and Peacock.
We’re entering the final stretch of the group stage, with three crucial game days left: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Teams are fighting not just for wins but for point differential — a decisive factor in securing a wild-card spot. Below is the full landscape heading into the final week, plus an updated look at how the 2025 NBA Cup actually works.
How the NBA Cup 2025 Format Works
The in-season tournament mirrors European football’s cup logic but stays fully embedded in the regular-season schedule. All 30 NBA teams were drawn into six groups — three in the East, three in the West — with five teams per group.
Group Stage Structure:
- Each team plays four Cup games (one against every team in its group).
- All Cup games also count as regular-season games.
- The six group winners advance to the knockout rounds, along with one wild card from each conference (based on Cup record and point differential).
Knockout Stage:
- Eight-team bracket, East vs. East and West vs. West.
- Single-elimination quarterfinals and semifinals.
- Final Four takes place in Las Vegas (Dec. 13 semis, Dec. 16 Final).
NBA CUP 2025. Source: nba.com
NBA Cup Standings & Group-by-Group Analysis
Western Conference
West Group A
Oklahoma City Thunder 2-0
Phoenix Suns 2-0
Minnesota Timberwolves 2-1
Sacramento Kings 0-2
Utah Jazz 0-3
Analysis: Fresh off last season’s trip to the NBA Cup Final, Oklahoma City once again holds the advantage. Their clash with Minnesota on Wednesday is pivotal — a Thunder win puts them inches from qualification, while Minnesota’s impressive +53 point differential keeps wild-card hopes alive if they finish 3-1. Friday’s potential showdown — 3-0 Suns vs. 3-0 Thunder — could effectively serve as a group title match if Phoenix first handles Sacramento.
West Group B
Los Angeles Lakers 2-0
LA Clippers 2-0
Memphis Grizzlies 1-1
Dallas Mavericks 1-2
New Orleans Pelicans 0-3
Analysis: For the Lakers, the path couldn’t be clearer: beat the Clippers on Tuesday and the group is theirs. The Clippers, however, can seize the edge with a win — and if Memphis drops Wednesday’s game in New Orleans, LAC would clinch early. Their Friday matchup with Memphis could become decisive if the group remains tight.
West Group C
Portland Trail Blazers 2-1
Denver Nuggets 2-1
San Antonio Spurs 1-1
Houston Rockets 1-2
Golden State Warriors 1-2
Analysis: The “Group of Death” lives up to its name. Portland, despite a -18 point differential, still controls its destiny after beating Denver. A Trail Blazers win over San Antonio on Wednesday would seal the group. Denver, with a solid +26 differential, remains in excellent shape for the wild card, especially if the Spurs defeat Portland and set up a Friday decider between the Nuggets and Spurs. San Antonio can still shock the group by winning out — even without Victor Wembanyama.
Read also: Denver Nuggets Hit With Major Aaron Gordon Injury Blow in NBA Cup Clash vs Houston Rockets
Eastern Conference
East Group A
Toronto Raptors 3-0
Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1
Atlanta Hawks 1-1
Indiana Pacers 0-2
Washington Wizards 0-2
Analysis: Toronto has already punched its ticket to the quarterfinals. Cleveland’s +26 point differential gives them a legitimate wild-card opportunity if they take care of Atlanta. The Hawks, meanwhile, can enter the conversation if they sweep Washington and upset Cleveland.
East Group B
Detroit Pistons 2-0
Orlando Magic 2-0
Brooklyn Nets 1-2
Boston Celtics 1-2
Philadelphia 76ers 0-2
Analysis: This group is building toward a heavyweight collision on Friday: Detroit vs. Orlando. Both sides advance if they simply win out. For that to happen, Orlando must beat Philadelphia on Tuesday, and Detroit must get past Boston. If either slips, the wild-card picture becomes chaotic.
East Group C
Milwaukee Bucks 2-0
Miami Heat 2-1
New York Knicks 1-1
Chicago Bulls 1-2
Charlotte Hornets 0-2
Analysis: Milwaukee has the “Darvin Ham advantage.” The Bucks assistant has coached teams to a perfect 16-0 record in NBA Cup play. However, the Bucks face a brutal road challenge, needing wins at Miami and New York while Giannis Antetokounmpo remains sidelined. If the Heat take Wednesday’s matchup, they grab control. If the Knicks win out — including a head-to-head against Milwaukee — they take the group. Meanwhile, Toronto lurks as a strong wild-card contender if the Knicks and Bucks split results.
NBA Cup 2025 Knockout Round Schedule
Quarterfinals: December 9 and 10
Semifinals (Las Vegas): December 13
Championship (Las Vegas): December 16
The bracket will lock in after Friday’s group-stage finale, setting the stage for a potentially explosive chase for the $500,000-per-player grand prize.