Thunder Host Suns, Lakers Welcome Spurs in NBA Cup Quarterfinals
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The Western Conference’s remaining NBA Cup quarterfinal berths will be settled Wednesday night when the Oklahoma City Thunder face the Phoenix Suns, followed by the San Antonio Spurs visiting the Los Angeles Lakers.
Oklahoma City, the defending NBA champion, enters the home matchup with a 23-1 record, matching the 1969-70 New York Knicks for the second-best 24-game start in league history, according to ESPN Research. The Thunder have also won 15 straight, tying the franchise mark set in 2014. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averages 32.8 points, while second-year center Chet Holmgren posts career highs of 18.6 points and 8.1 rebounds. The club fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in last season’s NBA Cup final.
Phoenix dropped a 123-119 group-stage game to Oklahoma City on Nov. 14 and has lost three of its past four overall. Leading scorer Devin Booker (25.0 ppg) is sidelined by a groin injury suffered Dec. 1. Forward Dillon Brooks provides 22.3 points per game, the best mark of his career.
Second Quarterfinal in Los Angeles
The night’s late contest features the Lakers, who edged the Spurs 118-116 on Nov. 5. Los Angeles owns the league’s highest-scoring starting backcourt: Luka Doncic averages 35.0 points, and Austin Reaves contributes a career-best 28.4. LeBron James scores 16.1 per game after missing the season’s first 14 outings with sciatica.
San Antonio remains without center Victor Wembanyama, out since Nov. 14 with a calf injury. Rookie guard Stephon Castle recently returned after a 10-game absence caused by a hip flexor strain.
The two winners will secure the West’s remaining spots in the Las Vegas semifinals.
Source: ESPN
