The Emirates NBA Cup reaches its knockout stage on Dec. 9, with eight teams vying for four spots in Las Vegas. Friday’s results locked in the matchups: the Toronto Raptors host the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic meet the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference, while the Oklahoma City Thunder face the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers welcome the San Antonio Spurs in the West.
Early MVP Conversation
ESPN’s panel of NBA insiders gave the slight edge to Los Angeles guard Luka Doncic for group-stage MVP honors. Doncic averaged 36.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 10.5 assists on 49.4% shooting, including 45.5% from three, while leading the Lakers to a 4-0 record. Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished a close second after posting 34.5 points in only 33.0 minutes per game with .589/.563/.860 shooting splits for the undefeated Thunder. One analyst singled out Phoenix guard Devin Booker, who averaged 23.0 points, 7.8 assists and 6.0 rebounds in a 3-1 run that featured a narrow four-point loss to Oklahoma City.
Biggest Surprises
The panel cited several unexpected developments:
- Miami Heat: Despite offseason turbulence and early injuries, the Heat went 3-1 behind newcomers Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and rookie Kel’el Ware.
- San Antonio Spurs: San Antonio captured Group C even after Victor Wembanyama missed the final week with a calf strain, securing road wins in Portland and Denver.
- Toronto Raptors: Toronto swept Group A after consecutive 50-loss seasons, including double-digit road wins in Cleveland and Atlanta.
- Orlando Magic: The Magic finished 4-0 and built a decisive point differential while playing three games without injured forward Paolo Banchero.
Quarterfinals to Watch
Analysts highlighted the intrastate clash between the Heat and Magic for a Las Vegas berth, noting Miami’s league-leading 123.6 points per game against Orlando’s Cup-best defense. Others pointed to the Suns-Thunder rematch, the possible Wembanyama return for Spurs-Lakers, and the Knicks-Raptors contest that revisits their 2023 trade.
Can Anyone Slow the Thunder?
Oklahoma City owns a 20-1 overall record and has kept Gilgeous-Alexander on the bench in 11 fourth quarters due to large leads. When asked which remaining team has the best chance to upset the defending champions, most insiders selected the Lakers, citing Doncic’s scoring bursts and the neutral-site advantage of Las Vegas, where Los Angeles won the inaugural Cup in 2023. Other votes went to the Knicks and Raptors.
Looking Beyond the Cup
On whether both 2026 NBA Finals participants are currently in the Cup quarters, the panel leaned “fiction,” arguing that contenders such as Denver, Cleveland, Detroit and Houston remain threats outside the tournament field.
The NBA Cup quarterfinals tip off Dec. 9; winners advance to the semifinals at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 12, followed by the championship game on Dec. 14.
Source: ESPN
