Patryk Stachowiak
The New York Knicks punched their ticket to the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Friday night, riding a dominant 37-point performance from Jalen Brunson to a decisive 118–109 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. The win not only propelled the Knicks to the top of their group but also eliminated the defending in-season tournament champions from contention.
Brunson Outduels Giannis in High-Stakes Clash
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a four-game injury absence with a massive 30-point, 15-rebound, eight-assist showing in just 28 minutes. But Milwaukee’s struggles continued, as the Bucks dropped their seventh straight game despite pulling within two points on a Giannis dunk with 5:19 remaining.
Brunson took over down the stretch, sinking nine of his 10 free throws including a perfect 4-for-4 in the final period to close out the win at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks’ victory also ensured the Miami Heat, who were idle, advanced as the Eastern Conference wild card for the December 9–10 quarterfinals.
Short-Handed Spurs Stun Nuggets in Thrilling Comeback
The San Antonio Spurs, missing Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle due to injuries, delivered one of the night’s biggest shocks with a dramatic 139–136 comeback win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Devin Vassell erupted for a season-high 35 points, while Julian Champagnie added 25 points and 10 rebounds as San Antonio erased an 18-point third-quarter deficit.
Denver tied the game at 126–126 with 1:41 left after a Jamal Murray surge, but Vassell’s back-to-back threes sealed the Spurs’ quarterfinal berth. Murray closed with 37 points, while Jokic posted 21 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists but it wasn’t enough to keep the Nuggets in the tournament.
Magic Survive Pistons Rally to Stay Perfect
The Orlando Magic also advanced after grinding out a 112–109 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Detroit, coming off a 13-game winning streak snapped two nights earlier, erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and briefly took the lead twice. But Orlando steadied themselves in the final moments.
Desmond Bane delivered a powerful 37-point, eight-rebound outing, supported by Franz Wagner’s 21 points and Anthony Black’s 16 off the bench. The Magic survived a monster 39-point triple-double from Cade Cunningham, who added 13 boards and 11 assists. Three clutch offensive rebounds in the final minute set up Jalen Suggs’ decisive free throws with 6.3 seconds left, keeping Orlando’s group record at a perfect 4–0.
Thunder Hold Off Suns, Lakers Stay Perfect
The Oklahoma City Thunder last season’s NBA Cup runners-up secured their quarterfinal slot with a 123–119 win over the Phoenix Suns. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander once again played closer, scoring 15 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter alongside eight assists. The Suns cut a 15-point deficit to one on two occasions, but SGA’s late free throws iced the game.
Jalen Williams made his season debut after offseason wrist surgery, contributing 11 points and eight assists as the Thunder topped their group. Phoenix, however, grabbed the Western Conference wild card despite Memphis’ 112–107 win over the Clippers.
In Los Angeles, the already-qualified Lakers capped a flawless group stage with a 129–119 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Austin Reaves led all scorers with 38 points, while Luka Dončić added 35 points and 11 assists for the Lakers.
P.J. Washington paced the Mavericks with 22 points, and Anthony Davis posted 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists in his first matchup with his former team since February’s blockbuster trade that sent him to Dallas. Davis looked sharp in his return after a 14-game absence due to a calf strain.
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