The Association predicts the winners of Wednesday's Western Conference quarterfinals in the Emirates NBA Cup 2025.
Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals
• Tonight on Prime: Suns at Thunder (7:30 p.m. ET)
• Tonight on Prime: Spurs at Lakers (10 p.m. ET)
• Dec. 9: Magic 117, Heat 108
• Dec. 9: Knicks 117, Raptors 101
The NBA season is two months complete and approaching the Christmas checkpoint, which means few, if any, conclusions can be drawn.
But in the cosmetic case of the two conferences, the perception is slowly becoming reality — the West is best.
For anyone still unsure, just observe the quality of the Wednesday tips for the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals, exclusively featuring four teams in the Left Conference:
• Oklahoma City Thunder (23-1; 4-0 in NBA Cup): The defending NBA champs, currently 23-1 and bulldozing the league.
• Los Angeles Lakers (17-6; 4-0): Fortified by a pair of Kia MVP candidates and garnished by one of the greatest players ever, who isn’t one of the two MVP candidates.
• San Antonio Spurs (16-7; 3-1): The team of the future, with the franchise player of the future, suddenly playing as though the future is now.
• Phoenix Suns (14-10; 3-1): Powered by pixie dust, the biggest surprise of the season, a 14-10 team that was supposed to be down, but responding like a phoenix.
These four bring unique personalities and blueprints to the next phase of the knockout round, and this much, we can be sure: the two survivors will go to Las Vegas with gusto, if only because their semifinal will be earned.
Here are five things to know about the West’s NBA Cup quarterfinals, all the factors and major players and how these games will be won or lost:
1. How will the Spurs roll with or without Wembanyama?
It’s awfully hard for a guy who stands 7-4 — or maybe 7-5 — to hide in plain sight, but such has been the case for Victor Wembanyama since Nov. 14, the last time he suited up before suffering a calf strain. Wembanyama made the trip to LA for this quarterfinal with the Lakers but is listed as out. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said: “We won’t treat that game, medically-speaking, any different.”
With Wembanyama scratched from the lineup once again, the Spurs are comforted by their performances without him; they’re 8-3 (with a victory over the Nuggets) during this injury stretch because almost everyone in the rotation went up a notch. Especially De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes; the vets are playing perhaps their best ball in a Spurs’ uniform.
That said, this Spurs-Lakers matchup would’ve been spicier with the return of Wembanyama. He changes everything — how the Spurs are defended, how the San Antonio offense flows and especially the impact that Wembanyama provides defensively at the rim. He was on MVP-pace before the injury but will choose another time to suit up again. Perhaps by Christmas Day?
2. LeBron James is his team’s third option
LeBron James hits a late go-ahead 3-pointer and scores 29 points, sparking the Lakers' late surge in a 112-108 win in Philly.
That sentence has never been typed before. But after 22 seasons, there’s a first time for everything. At some point, LeBron will have his ankles broken on a devastating crossover executed by Father Time, and perhaps this will happen sooner than later. Aside from his double-digit scoring streak snapping, there have been subtle signs that reflect how James, who turns 41 in a few weeks, is a step slower and a vertical leap lower.
It’s all about how he adapts to this new reality, and so far, so decent — James seems willing to let Luka Dončić and, even more telling, Austin Reaves take the wheel. That says plenty about his mentality and his priorities. He’s not demanding the ball or for the Lakers to constantly call his number.
That said, the Lakers need whatever James has left to reach Vegas and try to win the Cup for the second time in two seasons. While his shooting and defense are on the decline, his passing and court vision remain sharp. If LeBron can use those skills to elevate the other Lakers, primarily center Deandre Ayton, the Lakers will be a problem for the Spurs.
3. Is Dončić the best Cup player still standing?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would like to have a word, and no disrespect to the reigning Kia MVP, but Dončić is making a serious charge for that honor and in some ways could have a case.
He’s leading the NBA in scoring (35 points per game) and nearly averaging a triple-double. While Dončić missed a few games earlier this season — Reaves filled the lead-singer role nicely during Dončić’s absence — he is nearly indestructible, averaging 37 minutes per game and shouldering the offensive load.
He’s a handful for all 29 teams, and his matchup against the bevy of guards the Spurs will throw at him will be interesting. Dončić is fit, motivated and apparently wants to win a trophy, even if it’s awarded in December. He’s two wins away from that.
4. Thunder opponents suffer from OKCD
The shine is mostly directed toward Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and, arguably, the best Jalen in hoops, Jalen Williams. For good reason, that core is talented and is steering the Thunder toward a potential second straight title.
Then there’s OKCD — OKC’s defense, relentless, unforgiving and allowing a league-low 107 points per game (nobody else in the league is under 110). What’s special and unique about OKC’s D is how it’s a truly collective effort, as each rotation player is a solid defender. Usually, teams are fortunate to have a specialist or two. But in addition to the core three, there’s Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and oh look — Cason Wallace was named Kia Defensive Player of the Month for the West in November.
OKC comes at you in droves and prohibits teams from finding and exploiting mismatches because there are none in the Thunder defense. How will the Suns compete against that, especially if Devin Booker is an injury scratch?
5. Collin Gillespie is ready for his closeup
Collin Gillespie hits the go-ahead floater for the Suns with 6.4 seconds left as they win it, 114-113 over the Timberwolves.
The human symbol for the unexpected surge of the Suns is Gillespie, an overachiever on a team sprinkled with them. The 26-year-old guard has found a home and a foundation with the Suns because of his fearlessness and ability to respond when his number is called.
Over the last nine games, he has scored at least 20 points four times and has shot roughly 50% in that span. Even better, the Suns are looking for him late in games; that’s how much confidence Gillespie bought himself among the coaching staff and with his teammates.
He and the Suns lost to OKC by only four points on Nov. 28 as Gillespie had 24 in that game. If nothing else is accomplished in this next game, Gillespie, who’s suddenly on the NBA radar, has entered himself into the conversation for Kia Most Improved Player.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
