With two dates remaining in the NBA Cup group play schedule – Friday and Tuesday – just three teams have been officially eliminated from advancing to the quarterfinals and just two teams have clinched a spot in the quarterfinals.
Of the 39 NBA Cup games played, 16 have been decided by six or fewer points, including eight by three or fewer points.
Six quarterfinal spots remain: the winner of each group and one wild card from both the Western and Eastern conferences where points differential in group play will come into the tiebreaker equation. There is also the possibility that the top team in the East and West – Cleveland and Oklahoma City, respectively – do not advance out of group play.
There are 10 NBA Cup games Friday, and here’s what is at stake:
East Group A
Orlando (2-0) and New York (2-0) are headed for a winner-takes-the-group game, but first the Magic play at Brooklyn and the Knicks play at Charlotte on Friday. Orlando visits New York on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
East Group B
Detroit (2-0) remains in the hunt for first place in the group and a potential spot in the quarterfinals. The Pistons play Indiana on Friday. The Pacers, who reached last season’s NBA Cup final, are close to elimination with an 0-2 record. Detroit plays 3-0 Milwaukee, which is performing much better the past two weeks, in the group finale for both teams Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, League Pass)
East Group C
Chicago, Atlanta and Boston are 2-1 in this group, and Cleveland can move to 2-1 with a victory at Atlanta on Friday. Also Friday, Boston plays Chicago, and on Tuesday, Washington (0-3) visits Cleveland.
West Group A
Houston (3-0) has clinched the group, and the Los Angeles Clippers (1-1) and Portland (1-1) still have a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals as the wild card from the West. The Clippers finish group play at Minnesota and at home against Portland. The Trail Blazers play at Sacramento and against the Clippers.
West Group B
Scenarios exist where either Phoenix (2-1), the defending NBA Cup champion Los Angeles Lakers (2-1), San Antonio (2-1) or Oklahoma City (1-1) can win the group. The Thunder play the Lakers on Friday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). Utah plays the Thunder and the Suns play the Spurs on Tuesday.
West Group C
Golden State has clinched the group, and Dallas remains in contention for a wild-card spot. The 2-1 Mavericks finish group play against Memphis on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET, League Pass), and their plus-41 points differential puts them in an advantageous position to advance with a victory.
Friday’s NBA Cup schedule
New York Knicks at Charlotte Hornets, noon ET, NBA TV
Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks, 2:30 p.m., NBA TV
New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies, 5 p.m., NBA TV
Orlando Magic at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m., League Pass
Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers, 8 p.m., League Pass
Toronto Raptors at Miami Heat, 8 p.m., League Pass
Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m., League Pass
Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., ESPN
Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m., League Pass
NBA Cup standings
NBA Cup standings in group play:
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
