JDub is back for OKC.
The return of No. 8 helped the Thunder get win No. 11 in a row and a top seed in the Emirates NBA Cup Knockouts.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION
Nov. 29, 2025
Knockouts Set: With the 8-team field set, the single-elimination tourney tips Dec. 9-10
Winning The West: How the Thunder, Spurs & Suns locked up their Knockout berths
Deciding The East: Magic & Knicks win showdowns to clinch groups, Heat get Wild Card
Cup Roundup: Lakers wrap up perfect Group Play run, plus four more games
Saturday Preview: An NBA TV doubleheader, plus Raptors go for 10 straight wins
BUT FIRST …
An eight-game Saturday of hoops…
NBA TV Doubleheader: All-Star guards clash in Minnesota when Anthony Edwards and the Wolves host Jaylen Brown and the Celtics (5 ET, Tap To Watch). Then, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans visit Jimmy Butler III and the Warriors (8:30 ET, Tap To Watch).
1. NBA CUP KNOCKOUTS FIELD SET
Friday began with six of the eight spots in the Knockout Rounds open, setting up a thrilling finish to Group Play with 14 teams still alive.
Now that the dust has settled, we know the eight teams that will vie for the Emirates NBA Cup.
6 Group winners
- East A: (2) Raptors (4-0, +55) – Clinched on Nov. 21 with win over Wizards and Pacers loss
- East B: (1) Magic (4-0, +64) – Clinched on Friday with win over Pistons; earned No. 1 seed via point differential over Raptors
- East C: (3) Knicks (3-1, +35) – Clinched on Friday with win over Bucks
- West A: (1) Thunder (4-0, +75) – Clinched on Friday with win over Suns; earned No. 1 seed via point differential over Lakers
- West B: (2) Lakers (4-0, +46) – Clinched on Nov. 25 with win over Clippers
- West C: (3) Spurs (3-1, +26) – Clinched on Friday with win over Nuggets
2 Wild Cards
- East: (4) Heat (3-1, +49) – Clinched on Friday with losses by Pistons and Cavs; finished with best record of non-Group winners
- West: (4) Suns (3-1, +31) – Clinched on Friday with tiebreaker over Memphis
What’s Next: From this point on, it’s a single-elimination tournament featuring the eight remaining teams.
Quarterfinals: Four games will be played in team markets of the matchup’s higher seed with all available on Prime Video.
What’s On The Line: A trip to Las Vegas for the four teams that win their quarterfinal matchups. They will be just two wins away from hoisting the Emirates NBA Cup.
Semifinals & Championship: The final three games will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and available on Prime Video.
- Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 13 (5:30 ET and 9 ET)
- Cup Championship: Tuesday, Dec. 16 (8:30 ET)
Now that we know what lies ahead, let’s take a look at how we got here with Friday’s conclusion of Group Play.
2. HOW THE WEST WAS WON
The Thunder entered Friday’s Group Play finale riding a 10-game win streak and holding a league-best 18-1 record despite being without an All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive Second Team selection from last season through their first 19 games.
On Friday, Jalen Williams made his season debut following offseason wrist surgery. And the Thunder’s winning ways continued.
Thunder 123, Suns 119 (West A): In a winner-takes-the-group showdown between the 3-0 Thunder and 3-0 Suns, it was OKC that held on down the stretch to outlast Phoenix and advance to the Knockouts for the second straight year. | Recap
- SGA Shines Again: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 of his game-high 37 points in the 2nd half to lead OKC, while matching Wilt Chamberlain for the second-longest streak of 20+ point games with his 92nd straight
- JDub’s Impact: Williams (11 pts, 8 ast, 4 reb, 2 stl) chipped in with playmaking and defense over 29 minutes in his debut. The best part according to JDub? The reception he received from the OKC fans
- Rematch On The Horizon: Despite the loss, Phoenix advanced to the Knockouts as the Wild Card, setting up a rematch with OKC in the 1-vs.-4 matchup on Wednesday, Dec. 10 (7:30 ET, Prime Video)
- Historic Start Continues: OKC becomes only the fifth team to start a season at least 19-1 through the first 20 games of a season – joining the 2015-16 Warriors, 1993-94 Rockets, 1990-91 Blazers and 1969-70 Knicks
Similar to the Thunder and Suns in West Group A, the Spurs and Nuggets entered Friday’s West Group C finale with their group – and a spot in the Knockouts – on the line.
And just like Thunder-Suns, this showdown in the Mile High City came down to the wire.
Spurs 139, Nuggets 136 (West C): In a game that saw 20 lead changes and 12 ties, the final tie came at 126-126, with 1:41 to play. Then, Devin Vassell hit back-to-back clutch 3s in the span of 30 seconds to give the Spurs the lead for good, helping San Antonio (3-1) win the group. | Recap
- Season-Best Spurs: Vassell (35 pts, 7 3pm) and Julian Champagnie (25 pts, 10 reb) both had their best scoring games of the season as they combined for 60 to lead seven Spurs in double figures in the critical Cup win
- Nuggets Trio Not Enough: Denver got a combined 65 points from Jamal Murray (37 pts, 7 ast, 5 3pm) and Cam Johnson (28 pts, 6 3pm – both season-highs) and a near triple-double from Nikola Jokić (21 pts, 9 reb, 10 ast) in the loss
While the Lakers had already clinched West Group B, the Grizzlies and Clippers both entered Friday’s Group Play finale at 2-1 with hopes of winning the Wild Card.
Grizzlies 112, Clippers 107 (West B): Behind a combined 40 points from starters Jaren Jackson Jr. and Vince Williams Jr. and a huge bench performance (outscoring LA’s bench 47-15), Memphis overcame Kawhi Leonard’s season-high 39 points to get the victory. | Recap
The five-point win was not enough to boost Memphis’ point differential ahead of Phoenix’s, thus both the Grizzlies and Clippers were eliminated.
3. HOW THE EAST WAS DECIDED
Just like in the West, two Groups and the Wild Card were left to be decided on the final night of Group Play.
Two surging teams in Orlando and Detroit met in a winner-takes-Group faceoff.
Cup dreams are made of these scenarios.
Magic 112, Pistons 109: In a one-possession game with just over a minute to play, Desmond Bane grabbed Orlando three extra possessions and Anthony Black blocked Duncan Robinson’s game-tying attempt at the buzzer to clinch Group B for the Magic (4-0).
Despite Cade Cunningham’s second triple-double of the season (game-high 39 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast), Detroit (2-2) was eliminated from the Cup and has dropped consecutive games for the first time this season. | Recap
- Bane Game: After netting his Magic-high 37 points, Bane forced a key turnover then snagged two of three offensive rebounds in a pivotal 58-second possession that left Detroit down by three with six seconds to play | Bane-Cade Duel
- “We’re building something special,” Bane said postgame. “It takes everybody.”
- Best Support: Franz Wagner added 21 points and seven rebounds for Orlando, while Tobias Harris (18 pts, 5 reb) and Jalen Duren (16 pts, 12 reb) starred for Detroit
The Knicks, Bucks and Heat all remained in contention in Group C, with New York rising up to take control.
Knicks 118, Bucks 109 (East C): Jalen Brunson scored 22 of his 37 points in the 2nd half, cooling a Bucks’ run with six points in the final four minutes and spoiling Giannis’ return (30 pts, 15 reb, 8 ast), as New York prevailed to win Group C. | Recap
- Garden Numbers: Josh Hart (15 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl) and Miles McBride (5 3s) each added 19 points, while Kyle Kuzma (20 pts, 2 stl, 4 3s) supported Milwaukee
- Iron Bridges: Mikal Bridges’ (14 pts, 2 stl) 574th-consecutive game played tied Terry Tyler for third-longest streak to start a career ever
- Field Is Set: This result paired with the losses by Detroit and Cleveland slotted Miami into the Wild Card
- Defending Champs Out: The loss eliminated Milwaukee from Cup contention. Giannis and the Bucks look to bounce back tonight at home against the Nets
Still alive in Toronto’s Group A, Cleveland needed a win and some help to snag the Wild Card spot.
Jalen Johnson had other ideas.
Hawks 130, Cavaliers 123 (East A): Johnson went off (29 pts, 12 reb, 12 ast) in his fourth career triple-double and Nickeil Alexander-Walkers’ team-high 30 points on five 3s helped Atlanta overpower Donovan Mitchell’s 42 points to eliminate the Cavs. | Recap
- Desperate Finish: With its Cup life on the line, Cleveland was held scoreless for the final 90 seconds. Zaccharie Risacher’s go-ahead 3 broke a 123-all tie and triggered a 7-0 finish for Atlanta
- Not Going Quietly: Evan Mobley (20 pts, 14 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, 3 3s) and Darius Garland (15 pts, 5 reb, 10 ast) did all they could to extend Cleveland’s Cup hopes
4. ROUNDUP: CLOSING OUT GROUP PLAY
The Lakers entered Friday having already clinched West Group B, but Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić still put on a show to help L.A. close out Group Play a perfect 4-0. | Back-to-Back 30+s For L.A. Duo
Lakers 129, Mavs 119: Reaves (38 pts, 12-15 FG, 6-8 3PT) and Dončić (35 pts, 11 ast) came out sizzling and were too much for the Mavs to handle despite Anthony Davis’ return (12 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) from a 14-game absence and Cooper Flagg’s career-high 11 assists. | Recap
- Reluctant Compliment: “I usually don’t give Luka too many compliments… but he’s one of the best players in the league,” said Reaves of his teammate and friendly rival
- Former Teammates Reunite: NBA on Prime Video’s Dwyane Wade interviewed LeBron James about playing in Year 23, while Dirk Nowitzki had jokes when he FaceTimed Luka from the studio show
Hornets 123, Bulls 116 (East C): Brandon Miller’s season-high 27 points with five 3s led three Hornets with over 20 points, as Charlotte snapped a seven-game skid. | Recap
Josh Giddey (25 pts, 11 reb, 9 ast), Miles Bridges (22 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast) & LaMelo Ball (16 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast, 1 must-see) all stuffed the stat sheet.
76ers 115, Nets 103 (East B): Tyrese Maxey’s balanced attack (22 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast) and Jared McCain’s season-high 20 points pushed Philly past Brooklyn on Egor Dёmin’s career night (23 pts, 9 reb, 2 blk, 5 3s). McCain became the 6th Sixer ever with a 20+ point, 5+ steal game with no turnovers. | Recap
Pacers 119, Wizards 86 (East A): Pascal Siakam (24 pts, 11 reb), Bennedict Mathurin (20 pts) and T.J. McConnell (14 pts, 8 ast) supplied the offense as Indy’s defense held Washington to a season-low 86 points. Alex Sarr (24 pts, 8 reb) had the Wizards’ biggest night. | Recap
Jazz 128, Kings 119 (West A): Behind 59 combined points from Keyonte George (31 pts, 6 ast, 4 3pm) and Lauri Markkanen (28 pts), the Jazz overcame Zach LaVine’s game-high 34 and Russell Westbrook’s 206th career triple-double (16 pts, 12 reb, 14 ast) to improve to 6-12. | Recap
5. NBA TV DOUBLEHEADER, RAPTORS STREAK LEADS 8-GAME SATURDAY
Brian Babineau, Sean Gardner & Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images
The front half of an NBA TV doubleheader starts Saturday’s eight-game slate with an evening tip from Minnesota.
Celtics at Timberwolves (5 ET, NBA TV): Anthony Edwards (28.0 ppg) and the Wolves welcome in Jaylen Brown (28.2 ppg) and the Celtics, winners of five of their last six games, as both star guards are averaging career-highs in scoring.
- New Arsenal: Edwards made a splash last year with a league-high 320 threes (career-best 39.5 3P%) and has followed suit this season, attempting 8.6 triples per game at 39.2%
- Leading Man: Brown has embraced his role at the crux of Boston’s offense (career-high 35.4% usage rate, up 7.2% from last season), taking more shots than ever before (+3.7 FGA over last season), while maintaining efficiency (49.5 FG%)
Pelicans at Warriors: (8:30 ET, NBA TV): With Steph Curry sidelined (quad), Golden State turns to Jimmy Butler III (20.0 pts) for the scoring load, while relying on Draymond Green’s leadership and defense. His next assignment: NOLA’s red-hot rookie Derik Queen.
- Queen’s Arrival: In a three-game stretch last week (Nov. 19-22), Queen averaged 23.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists, launching him inside the top five of this week’s Kia Rookie Ladder with high school teammate Cooper Flagg
- Fierce Flock: The Pelicans have a second top-five scoring rookie in Jeremiah Fears (15.1 pts, 1.5 stl), and team-leading production from Zion Williamson (20.5 pts, 54.9 FG% in his last four games) since returning from injury
- Lockdown Dray: Working against the two, Green anchors the Warriors’ top-10 defense by holding his opponents to 41.7 FG%, 4th-best in the league (minimum 225 DFGA) this season
The Raptors are playing fast, free and physical (1st in fast break pts, 5th in paint pts, 5th in ast per game), giving them a chance at their first double-digit win streak in five years.
They visit Rookie Ladder leader Kon Knueppel and the Hornets (6 ET) in League Pass’ six-game portion of the slate.
