Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds Preview

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The second set of knockout rounds in the short history of the Emirates NBA Cup offers plenty It’s crackling as the quarter-finals are being played on site Encounters. Of the teams that advanced to Las Vegas last December, only the Bucks still have a chance. And with the Lakers already eliminated, a new champion will be crowned.

There are a few teams Atlanta and Houston, who hope to use the Cup competition to achieve the strong finish and playoff success that Indiana sparked with its tournament play last year. Orlando, new York and Oklahoma City have been waiting for their close-ups for some time, while Golden State, Milwaukee and Dallas are relying on their experience and muscle memory to win what lies ahead. There is also no shortage of stars.

Western Conference

Dallas (3-1) vs. Oklahoma City (3-1)

• Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Outsider: Victory in Denver on November 22nd without Luka Dončić was the key to it Reached the quarterfinals despite the opening loss in group play against Golden State.

thunder: Oklahoma City’s top-ranked defense (103.2) was even stronger in group play (101.6), including holding Phoenix to just 83 points without Kevin Durant.

Can the Thunder handle Dallas’ size inside without Chet Holmgren?

That was a problem for OKC when the teams met on the Thunder’s court on November 17th and the Mavs won. No Dončić For Dallas, PJ Washington led that team in scoring, but the sticking point was the Mavericks’ 54-29 lead at the boards. No OKC player had more than five rebounds.

Center Isaiah Hartenstein began his season three nights later after returning from a broken hand and has since averaged 12.9 RPG in seven games. But it might not be enough.

The Thunder lead the league with both the fewest turnovers and the most pressures, but are ranked 29thTh in free throw attempts and was outscored 30-19 at the line by Dallas in that November contest. Dončić is third in the Cup standings with 31.3, slightly better than OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but Kyrie Irving is uncharacteristically behind at 80Th at 17.3 per cup game.

Golden State (3-1) vs. Houston (3-1)

• Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Warrior: Golden State did its work early, beating Dallas in the opening game of group play to hang on despite losing in Tuesday’s final in Denver.

Rockets: Houston secured its spot in West Group A before Thanksgiving, winning at Minnesota on Nov. 26.

How much value should Cup enthusiasts place on Golden State’s 99-93 win over the Rockets on Thursday night?

There is nothing as a preview of the quarterfinals fresher than the Warriors’ victory over the team they will face again on Wednesday in Houston. The defense dominated, as could be expected given the work the teams have done all season (Golden State fourth, Houston second). Combined, they missed 108 of their 179 shots, for an overall shooting percentage of 39.7%. And let’s remember: There was no Steph Curry or Draymond Green to bother the Rockets.

Still, it took a toll on Jonathan Kumingas Golden State scored a career-high 33 points, breaking a five-game losing streak. Houston has a 10-4 record of late, averaging 11 more points at home (9-3) than on the road.

Both teams have so far qualified as surprises for the 2024/25 season The Rockets heeded coach Ime Udoka’s defensive focus and the Warriors led the Pacific Division in harassing opponents to an NBA-worst 32.8% on 3s. Only Curry, 23.3 ppg for 30This one of the 60 best goalscorers in the cup tournament so far.

Eastern Conference

Orlando (3-1) vs. Milwaukee (4:0)

• Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. ET (TNT)

magic: These guys flirted with disaster and fell 33 points behind the Knicks in the group play final… but they had a tiebreaker cushion of 37 points, lost “only” 15 and secured the East’s wild card spot.

dollar: Maybe chicken, maybe egg – did they get excited at the right time or did the trophy motivate them? – but it worked, as Milwaukee remained undefeated and boasted the highest point differential (50).

Can Franz Wagner continue to lead the Magic beyond Milwaukee and into Las Vegas?

Wagner has expanded his offensive game to fill Paolo’s gap Bancheros Absence (oblique) since the beginning of November. He has increased his scoring (25.8 points per game) and his shots (20.3). time and dotted at least 29 in every group game.

However, will that be enough against a Bucks team with twin turbos Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard? Each has averaged 29.3 in the cup so far. Milwaukee’s top four scorers average a combined 82.9 points and now they have Khris Middleton back. The Magic’s top four? Only 61.0.

Keeping the Bucks away from the 3-point line is essential. Orlando allows the fewest attempts (32.7). league but the Bucks celebrate there often, especially at home (39.7%).

Atlanta (3:1) vs. New York (4:0)

• Wednesday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Hawks: Their Cup ambitions became clear when they defeated Boston, outscoring the home Celtics 63-51 in the second half – and they secured their group with another impressive win against Cleveland.

Curtsy: New York saved its best for last in the final against Orlando and prevailed against the otherwise weak East Group A, which ended 3:9.

Will the Hawks be able to stop the Knicks’ offense or find a way to surpass them?

Good luck with that. New York has the NBA’s top-ranked offense. It has outscored its opponents at Madison Square Garden by an average of 17.2 points per game, which explains its 8-2 home record. Last year they fell in the Cup quarterfinals and missed a trip to Las Vegas, but that one came in Milwaukee.

Atlanta has more quality wings than a kaleidoscope of butterflies, led by Jalen Johnson and early Most Improved candidate Dyson Daniels. Trae Young has taken advantage of it – his shooting and scoring opportunities are down, but his assists (12.0) are league-high.

Still, the Knicks have the Jalen Brunson-Karl-Anthony Towns one-two punch and four other guys averaging double figures. The Hawks beat them in Atlanta on November 6th, but on the road they trail by almost three points per game. And New York improved its defensive ranking from 19thTh overall to ninth place in the cup game.

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Steve Aschburner has been writing about the NBA since 1980. You can send him an email Herefind his archive here And Follow him on X.

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