Starting 5: Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals begin tonight

The race for the Cup is heating up.

The Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals are just hours away – and it’s not too late to grab your tickets to see a champ crowned in Vegas.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

NBA Cup Quarterfinals 101: Everything you need to know as the Knockout Rounds begin on Prime

Heat at Magic: Two in-state rivals with contrasting styles collide in Orlando

Knicks at Raptors: Brunson leads New York into Toronto in a matchup of strength vs. strength

What’s Next: OKC eyes history, while Lakers aim to stay hot in Wednesday’s West Quarterfinals

Monday Highlights: Suns overcome Ant’s 40-ball, star rookies duel, Pacers dub

1. EMIRATES NBA CUP QUARTERFINALS IN ONE MINUTE

Eight squads left. One championship on the line.

The race for the Emirates NBA Cup began 39 days ago, with all 30 teams in contention.

After 60 Group Play games, the field has been trimmed to eight: the three group winners and one wild card from each conference.

Tonight, the single-elimination Knockout Rounds begin with the first two of four Quarterfinal matchups on Prime.

The winners advance to Saturday’s Semifinals in Las Vegas. The losers are eliminated.

• Tonight: Heat at Magic (6 ET, Prime | Tap to Watch)
• Tonight: Knicks at Raptors (8:30 ET, Prime | Tap to Watch)
• Wednesday: Suns at Thunder (7:30 ET, Prime)
• Wednesday: Spurs at Lakers (10 ET, Prime)

Elimination basketball is nothing new for the eight quarterfinalists. Five of them — the Thunder, Lakers, Magic, Knicks and Heat — made the 2025 Playoffs.

Six of the eight teams – OKC, PHX, SAS, ORL, NYK, MIA – didn’t punch their tickets to the Knockout Rounds until the final night of Group Play.

Now, the stakes are even higher with a title just three wins away.

• “When we go into these games, we’re extremely excited – it feels like a Playoff atmosphere,” said Jaime Jaquez Jr. on the chase for the Cup. “It’s something new that we can add to our resume, and that’s important.”
• “The atmosphere. It’s a different feel,” added Jalen Brunson on Cup Games. “You can’t really explain it – you just know there’s something else at stake.”

The Next Step: The Semifinals are set for Saturday on Prime at 5:30 and 9 ET. The winners remain in Las Vegas for next Tuesday’s Championship game – with a chance to hoist the Cup.

• Want To Be There? Get your tickets now
• Dive Deeper: Find everything you need at the Emirates NBA Cup hub, including the current Cup MVP Ladder and a full Quarterfinals preview

2. HEAT AT MAGIC: SAME STATE, DIFFERENT IDENTITIES

The Magic are no strangers to adversity.

Last season, they willed their way to the Playoffs – and the NBA Cup Quarterfinals – despite Paolo Banchero (36), Franz Wagner (22) and Jalen Suggs (47) missing a combined 105 games.

This season, they’re battling through injury again. But their resolve remains rock solid.

• Cup Step Up: Despite being without Banchero for three Cup Games, Orlando went 4-0 in Group Play with an East-best +64 point differential to secure the No. 1 seed
• Cup Scorers: In those outings, seven different players (outside of Banchero) posted 10+ ppg, led by Wagner (23.5), Desmond Bane (23.3) and Anthony Black (15.5)
• Cup Clamps: On the other end, Orlando allowed the 2nd-fewest ppg in Group Play (105), while trailing only OKC in average plus-minus (+16)

Unshaken: After being sidelined since Nov. 12, Banchero returned last Friday – putting Orlando back at full strength as it looks to avenge last year’s Quarterfinals exit.

But on Sunday, Wagner went down with a high ankle sprain, leaving the Magic shorthanded yet again.

Still, there’s no panic – just belief in what’s carried them this far.

• “We’ve been here before,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley regarding Wagner’s injury. “You don’t want to see anybody go down, but we’ve talked about depth and defense being our strong suit…
• “So our guys are going to have to step up to the plate.”

Pressure vs. Pace: Tonight (6 ET, Prime), Orlando’s defense is tasked with stopping one of the most unique attacks in the NBA, as the Heat bring their 3rd-ranked offense (122.3 ppg) to town.

• High-Flying Heat: No team plays faster than Miami, which leads the league in pace and tallied the 5th-best NetRtg in Group Play, earning the East Wild Card with a 3-1 record
• A Closer Look: The Heat run the fewest pick-and-rolls in the league, finishing just 7.6 possessions per game via the P&R ball handler or roll man
• For comparison, the next-lowest team (Brooklyn) is more than 10 possessions higher at 17.6

The Result? A free-flowing offense of movement and creativity, as Miami ranks 2nd in the NBA in distance covered, 3rd in fastbreak points (18.4) and 1st in points off drives (33.7). All of that leads to an NBA-best seven games of 135+ points this season.

• “We wanna play fast, we wanna play with pace,” said Bam Adebayo last week. “And we’ve built a team to sustain that.”

Now, Miami’s speed will test Orlando’s grit, with a trip to Vegas on the line.

3. KNICKS AT RAPTORS: SURGING NEW YORK VISITS STINGY TORONTO

Eyeing a 4-0 record in Group Play and their ninth straight win, the Raptors needed one last bucket in their Nov. 26 game vs, Indiana.

With the game tied, Toronto’s star, Brandon Ingram, took the ball and held for the final shot. With 0.6 seconds left, he delivered, burying a pull-up jumper to send Scotiabank Arena wild.

• “Everybody knows why BI is here and what he does for our team,” said Raptors coach Darko Rajaković after Ingram’s winner. “There is no secret there. He’s doing a great job not just scoring … but also playmaking.”

Clicking Core: Ingram (21.2 ppg) has hit the ground running in his first 25 games with Toronto, combining for 77.1 ppg with Scottie Barnes (20 ppg), RJ Barrett (19.4) and Immanuel Quickley (16.5).

That chemistry has guided Toronto to a 15-10 record for 4th in the East, one season after winning just 30 games.

And while Toronto’s core has found its rhythm, its defense has roared – especially in Cup Play.

• Defense First: The Raptors allowed an NBA-best 100.8 ppg in Group Play while holding opponents to 40.9% shooting
• Lead Stopper: That starts with Barnes – the East Defensive Player of the Month for October & November – and the only player in the NBA with 30+ steals and 40+ blocks this season
• Clutch Clamps: It ends in clutch time, where Toronto is allowing the 5th-fewest ppg (6.6) en route to eight clutch wins, including three in Group Play

Tonight (8:30 ET, Prime), Toronto faces the reigning Kia Clutch Player of the Year in Jalen Brunson, who’s already come up big in this year’s Cup quest.

• Always Closing: With East C up for grabs on the final night of Group Play, Brunson scored 22 of his 37 points in the 2nd half to oust the defending champion Bucks, securing the group with a 3-1 record
• Heating Up: It was one of Brunson’s four 30-pieces in New York’s last eight games, fueling a 7-1 stretch that’s vaulted the Knicks to 2nd in the East at 16-7
• Strength vs. Strength: While Toronto finished Group Play with the top defense, New York posted the highest-scoring offense – dropping 128 ppg and splashing the second-most 3s (16.5)

Now, New York returns to the Knockout Rounds for the third straight year, seeking its first Semifinals appearance, while Toronto aims to make a statement.

• “It’s a great opportunity,” said Rajaković on reaching the Quarterfinals. “It’s an opportunity for us to play a game early in the season that gets you somewhere … it’s going to mean a lot.”
• Brunson: “When there’s a chance to win something, go and win it.”

4. WHAT’S NEXT: WEST QUARTERFINALS ON WEDNESDAY

Two more win-or-go-home Quarterfinals tip off tomorrow on Prime, with OKC eyeing a record start and the Lakers chasing another Cup crown – while two hungry contenders look to play spoiler.

Suns at Thunder (7:30 ET, Prime): After its Cup run fell short in the Championship last season, OKC returns to the Knockout Rounds with more than just a Semifinals berth on the line.

A victory would mark the Thunder’s 16th straight – breaking last year’s mark for the longest win streak in franchise history – while improving their overall record to 24-1, matching the 2015-16 Warriors (24-1) for the best 25-game start ever.

• Standing In Their Way: A Suns squad that nearly clipped OKC in the West A Group Play finale, before the Thunder pulled out a 123-119 win to improve to 4-0 in Cup Play, while Phoenix (3-1) grabbed the Wild Card

Spurs at Lakers (10 ET, Prime): Two years after leading Los Angeles to the inaugural NBA Cup championship, LeBron James guides a surging Lakers squad back into the Knockout Rounds – this time, alongside the league’s leading scorer (Luka Dončić, 35 ppg).

• Showtime: Dončić dazzled on Sunday with a 30-point triple-double (31 pts, 15 reb, 11 ast), while James (29 pts) scored 10 straight points in the clutch to top Philly for L.A.’s 9th win in 11 games
• Reaves Eruption: Austin Reaves has been just as dynamic for the Lakers, ranking 8th in the NBA in scoring with a career-high 28.4 ppg – helping fuel a 4-0 Group Play record
• Spurs Surge: San Antonio secured West Group C in a winner-take-all game against Denver – one of its eight wins in the past 11 games
• Fox Sizzling: In that 8-3 stretch, De’Aaron Fox has led San Antonio with 25.6 points and 6.8 assists per game. And more Spurs are heating up ⬇️

5. MONDAY RECAP: SUNS TOP ANT’S 40-BALL, ROOKIES DUEL, PACERS DUB

Before looking to oust OKC’s 15-game heater in Wednesday’s Cup Quarterfinals, the Suns halted the NBA’s second-longest win streak.

Suns 108, Wolves 105: Anthony Edwards went off, going 15-of-21 from the field en route to 40 points. But it wasn’t enough to top Phoenix, as Mark Williams (22 pts, 7 reb) and Collin Gillespie (19 pts, 6 reb) led six Suns in double figures to stave off Minnesota. | Recap

• Steady Climb: The win moves Phoenix to 14-10, one game back of Minnesota (15-9) for 6th out West, with the Wolves’ win streak ending at five games
• Edwards Rolls On: This was Ant’s fifth 40-ball this season – tying Luka Dončić for the most in the NBA – including four in his last nine games

Also entering the Cup Quarterfinals with a win? San Antonio – thanks to a rookie dagger and a sophomore spark.

Spurs 135, Pelicans 132: With NOLA trailing by 25 in the 2nd quarter, Derik Queen took over, posting a monster triple-double (33 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast, 4 blk), capped by a go-ahead bucket with 30 seconds to play.

But a fellow rookie responded, as Dylan Harper crossed his way into the lane for the game-winning finger roll with 9.1 ticks left, as the Spurs edged the Pels in a thriller. | Recap

• Spurs Ball: Harper finished with 22 points and 6 dimes, as he and Harrison Barnes (24 pts, 9-15 FG) led seven Spurs in double figures
• Castle’s Return: Stephon Castle added 18 points, 5 boards and 5 dimes in his first game back since suffering a hip flexor injury on Nov. 16, giving San Antonio a big boost heading into the Cup Quarters
• Rookie Royalty: Queen is the first rookie to record 30+ pts, 10+ reb, 10+ ast and 4+ blk in an NBA game since blocks were first recorded in 1973-74
• Triple-Double Royale: He’s also just the fifth player to record a 30-point triple-double at age 20 or younger, joining Wemby, Luka, LeBron and De’Aaron Fox

Pacers 116, Kings 105: The triple-double king, Russell Westbrook, pushed his all-time total to 207 with 24 points, 12 boards and 14 dimes for Sacramento.

But the Pacers got the win behind 76 combined points from Andrew Nembhard (28 pts, 12 ast), Bennedict Mathurin (25 pts, 6 reb) and Pascal Siakam (23 pts, 5 reb), giving Indy its second straight dub. | Recap

• Carlisle Eyes 1K: It was Rick Carlisle’s 999th career win as a head coach. He’ll look to become the 11th coach to reach 1,000 on Friday when Indy visits Philly (7 ET, League Pass)