Scenarios, what’s at stake during the final day of group play

Each team played at least three NBA Cup gamesif not all four. This means that the games on Friday, November 28, will complete the group stage portion of the season’s tournament and usher in the knockout stages. With four spots available per conference, what’s at stake for the final day of group play?

NBA Cup standings

West Group A:

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 3-0 (71 point differential)
2. Phoenix Suns, 3-0 (35)
3. Minnesota Timberwolves, 2-2 (45)
4. Sacramento Kings, 0-3 (-57)
5. Utah Jazz, 0-3 (-94)

West Group B:

1. Los Angeles Lakers, 3-0 (36)
2. Memphis Grizzlies, 2-1 (15)
3. Los Angeles Clippers, 2-1 (-9)
4. Dallas Mavericks, 1-2 (-18)
5. New Orleans Pelicans, 0-4 (-24)

West Group C:

1. Denver Nuggets, 2-1 (27)
2. San Antonio Spurs, 2-1 (23)
3. Houston Rockets, 2-2 (14)
4. Portland Trail Blazers, 2-2 (-31)
5. Golden State Warriors, 1-3 (-32)

East Group A:

1. Toronto Raptors, 4-0 (55)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers, 2-1 (33)
3. Washington Wizards, 1-2 (-44)
4. Atlanta Hawks, 1-2 (-10)
5. Indiana Pacers, 0-3 (-33)

East Group B:

1. Orlando Magic, 3-0 (61)
2. Detroit Pistons, 2-1 (24)
3. Boston Celtics, 2-2 (-17)
4. Brooklyn Nets, 1-2 (-17)
5. Philadelphia 76ers, 0-3 (-51)

East Group C:

1. Miami Heat, 3-1 (49)
2. New York Knicks, 2-1 (25)
3. Milwaukee Bucks, 2-1 (25)
4. Chicago Bulls, 1-2 (-42)
5. Charlotte Hornets, 0-3 (-60)

NBA Cup schedule

After the conclusion of group play, the quarter-finals of the knockout stage will take place on December 9 and 10, with two matches each day. The semi-finals will be on December 13, and the final on December 16. Below is the schedule of group matches on November 28.

Friday, Nov. 28

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 PM ET

Chicago Bulls @ Charlotte Hornets, 7:30 p.m. ET

Milwaukee Bucks @ New York Knicks, 7:30 PM ET

Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. ET

Philadelphia 76ers @ Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 PM ET

Washington Wizards @ Indiana Pacers, 7:30 PM ET

Phoenix Suns @ Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 PM ET

Sacramento Kings @ Utah Jazz, 9:30 PM ET

San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets, 9:30 p.m. ET

Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Lakers, 10:00 PM ET

Memphis Grizzlies @ Los Angeles Clippers, 10:00 PM ET

Scenarios and what’s at stake

The winner of each group advances to the knockout stage, as does one wild card team in each conference. The first tie-break is the results of each match, then the difference in points and finally the total number of points. The Toronto Raptors (East Group A) and the Los Angeles Lakers (West Group B) are the only teams that have already qualified for the knockout stage.

In the Western Conference, the winner of the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns match will win Group A, while the winner of the San Antonio Spurs vs. Denver Nuggets game will win Group C. Those four teams, along with the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies, are in the running for a Wild Card spot.

East Group B will also be decided by a head-to-head matchup between the Detroit Pistons and the Orlando Magic. Eastern Group C goes to the New York Knicks or the Miami Heat. The Knicks play the Milwaukee Bucks and will clinch the bracket with a win, but if they lose, the Heat will sneak in as the bracket winners. The Heat, Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers are the teams in the best position to get in via the Wild Card spot.