NBA Cup playoffs on the horizon: Clinching Scenarios and Tiebreakers Unfold This Week
The NBA in-season tournament is rapidly approaching its playoff stage,and several groups are poised for dramatic conclusions this week. Multiple teams have the prospect too clinch berths as early as Wednesday, while others face must-win scenarios and potential tiebreaker situations heading into Friday’s final group stage games.Here’s a breakdown of what’s at stake and how each group could play out.
The NBA cup tournament offers a new competitive layer within the regular season, with a $500,000 prize pool for each player on the winning team.While some groups have seen teams establish clear leads, others remain tightly contested, setting the stage for pivotal matchups and complex tiebreaker calculations.
Eastern Conference
Group C: The Milwaukee Bucks (2-0) are in a strong position to clinch, but are navigating the tournament without Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a groin strain. Milwaukee can secure a playoff spot on Wednesday if they defeat the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks lose to the Charlotte Hornets.Though, a Heat win over the Bucks coupled with a Knicks loss would send Miami through. If both the Knicks and Bucks win their respective games, the group will be decided in a Friday night showdown between Milwaukee and New York.
western Conference
Group A: A tight race between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the phoenix Suns will likely come down to Friday if both teams win their Wednesday games. Should one or both teams falter, point differential could become a deciding factor.
Group B: The Los Angeles Lakers can clinch Group B with a Wednesday night victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. If the Clippers win, they could face the Memphis Grizzlies in a Friday grudge match for the group’s playoff berth, provided Memphis defeats the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. A Clippers win and a Pelicans win would send James Harden’s team to the NBA Cup playoffs as Group B winners.
Group C: The Portland Trail Blazers (2-1) currently led Group C and can clinch the playoff berth with a Wednesday win against the San Antonio Spurs. If Portland loses, the group’s fate will be decided in a Friday night contest between the denver Nuggets and the San antonio Spurs.
