The Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks completed perfect runs through the group phase of the NBA Cup, and both will host quarterfinal games next week.
The other Eastern Conference group winner was the Atlanta Hawks, while the Orlando Magic secured the East’s lone wild-card berth into the quarterfinals. The Knicks defeated the visiting Magic 121-106 on Tuesday, but both teams wrapped up berths in the knockout round.
No Western Conference team swept its four group games, and five West teams finished 3-1. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors won their groups, and the Dallas Mavericks claimed the West’s wild card. The Phoenix Suns, the fifth 3-1 team, failed to advance due to a point-differential tiebreaker.
The quarterfinal matchups (times ET):
–Dec. 10, Orlando at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
–Dec. 10, Dallas at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m.
–Dec. 11, Atlanta at New York, 7 p.m.
–Dec. 11, Golden State at Houston, 9:30 p.m.
The winners of those games will advance to the semifinals in Las Vegas on Dec. 14, when the remaining two teams in each conference will square off. The first semifinal is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET, following by the second semifinal at 8:30 p.m. ET. The championship game is scheduled for Dec. 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas.
The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural event, then dubbed the NBA In-Season Tournament, last year.
–Field Level Media