Group play for the 2024 NBA Cup ended Tuesday, with the knockout spherical matchups set to start subsequent week.
Quickly, a group will declare the title because the second in-season event champion, becoming a member of final season’s winners, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nevertheless, the common season pushes on as groups look to finish 2024 on a excessive observe and enter the New Yr with intentions locked in on the postseason.
It is a battle of defenses within the West because the Houston Rockets path solely the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the convention standings whereas boasting the No. 2 and No. 1 defenses within the league, respectively.
Within the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics proceed to duke it out for the No. 1 spot within the convention, separated by one recreation and a mixed six video games forward of the Orlando Magic. The Milwaukee Bucks additionally look as if they’ve hit their stride after a rocky begin, happening a seven-game win streak to begin the vacation season.
Notice: Group rankings are primarily based on the place members of our panel (ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton) suppose groups belong this season.
Earlier rankings: Preseason| Oct. 30| Nov. 5| Nov. 13| Nov. 20| Nov. 27
Soar to a group:br/>ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLEbr/>DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | INDbr/>LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MINbr/>NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHXbr/>POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
Boston must be thrilled with Kristaps Porzingis‘ return following offseason surgical procedure. Regardless of not enjoying in a number of months, Porzingis has regarded like he hasn’t missed a beat, averaging 19 factors on 50% taking pictures whereas offering the Celtics with much-needed rim safety. He’s one other high quality long-range shooter on a group already launching greater than 50 3s per recreation. — Tim Bontemps
Cleveland responded to back-to-back losses to the Hawks with a revenge win in opposition to the Celtics — taking down the defending champs with a 43-27 run within the fourth quarter Sunday, lower than a month after Boston handed the Cavs their first defeat of the season on Nov. 19. The Cavs beat the Celtics at their very own recreation, hitting the identical variety of 3s (17) on 13 fewer makes an attempt. — Dave McMenamin
3. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
Third-year ahead Jalen Williams is constructing a robust early case for his first All-Star choice, as his manufacturing has elevated in all 5 of the foremost classes (21.5 factors, 6.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.0 block per recreation). The one gamers to common no less than 21 factors with that degree of manufacturing within the different classes for a complete season: Michael Jordan in 1990-91 and Scottie Pippen in 1994-95. — Tim MacMahon
Houston hits its three-game highway journey out West using a three-game profitable streak, capped by a signature victory at residence Sunday over the Thunder. The Rockets aren’t resting on their 19-win enchancment from final season. As an alternative, they’ve turned up the warmth defensively, competing with a desperation that has vaulted Houston to the No. 2 protection. For coach Ime Udoka, consistency is essential. He’d wish to see the group proceed to construct habits that it may possibly lean on as soon as competitors ratchets up throughout the stretch run heading into the playoffs. — Michael Wright
Depend it. Six wins in a row earlier than dropping Tuesday’s recreation at Dallas, and Memphis captured half of these with Ja Morant out. It is not a stretch to say the Grizzlies boast one of many league’s deepest rosters. After accidents to Morant, Desmond Bane, Zach Edey, Marcus Sensible and different essential contributors, they’ve leaned on promising kids comparable to Scotty Pippen Jr., Jaylen Wells and Jay Huff. Eight Grizzlies common double figures in scoring and 4 (Morant, Bane, Pippen and Jaren Jackson Jr.) are succesful on any given night time to tackle a star position. — Wright
The Magic entered Tuesday’s NBA Cup contest in New York as one of many league’s hottest groups, having sandwiched a pair of six-game profitable streaks round their solely loss since Nov. 6 in opposition to the Clippers. That put Orlando in place to advance to the quarterfinals regardless of a lopsided loss to the Knicks. Though the Magic performed a seven-game playoff collection in opposition to Cleveland final spring, an extended NBA Cup run will present helpful big-game expertise for a youthful roster. Orlando additionally shined in our latest under-25 rankings, with two of the highest 4 gamers (Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner) and a 3rd within the high 25 (Jalen Suggs). — Kevin Pelton
Steve Kerr had larger issues Tuesday than making an attempt to determine whether or not to shorten his deep rotation. Draymond Inexperienced missed his first recreation of the season with left calf tightness, and Kerr had to determine a method to decelerate MVP Nikola Jokic and halt the longest dropping slide of the season. The Warriors did neither. Jokic had 38 factors, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals and the Warriors blew a seven-point lead within the last 2:32 to drop their fifth straight recreation. Inexperienced will bear an MRI on Wednesday and his availability is unsure for Thursday’s recreation at residence in opposition to Houston.— Ohm Youngmisuk
Dallas’ depth allowed the Mavs to win the 5 of six video games not too long ago missed by Luka Doncic, which is a drastic distinction from latest seasons. The Mavs had been a mixed 9-19 in video games missed by Doncic the previous two seasons. Offseason additions Naji Marshall (19.0 PPG, 68.5 eFG%) and Quentin Grimes (15.8 PPG, 62.0 eFG%) helped fill the offensive void throughout Doncic’s five-game absence whereas he recovered from a proper wrist sprain and labored on his conditioning. — MacMahon
Twenty-one video games in, the revamped Knicks personal essentially the most environment friendly offense, boasting the affiliation’s greatest assist-to-turnover ratio and its second-best 3-point mark. An enormous a part of what’s fueling the development: The five-out spacing, courtesy of Karl-Anthony Cities, which has helped the group discover attractiveness extra rapidly than a season in the past. The distinction is delicate — with New York taking the league’s highest share of photographs within the last 4 seconds of the clock final season, versus taking the fifth-highest share at present. However marginal variations matter, particularly because the membership continues to work out kinks on the defensive finish, the place it ranks simply nineteenth by way of the primary quarter of this marketing campaign. — Chris Herring
10. Denver Nuggets
Michael Malone did not like the way in which his protection performed within the 5 video games coming into Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the Warriors. “I do not know if it is guys are simply form of caught up in themselves proper now,” Malone mentioned earlier than going through Golden State. “We’ve too many individuals worrying about why am I popping out of the sport? What number of my photographs am I getting?” His group responded with a detailed win over the Warriors because of a 38-point double-double from Jokic.— Youngmisuk
11. LA Clippers
When Norman Powell went down with a hamstring harm, the Clippers might have been gazing a tough stretch of their schedule. Powell has been on fireplace on offense for a group that desperately wants it. However throughout Powell’s six-game absence, the Clippers solely obtained grittier. They gained 4 of these six video games, with losses to the Celtics and Wolves. James Harden has been sensational, scoring 20 or extra factors in six of seven video games coming into Tuesday night time, together with a 43-point explosion in opposition to Washington and a 39-point efficiency in a win over Denver. And Powell picked up the place he left off with 28 factors in his return in opposition to Denver. — Youngmisuk
12. Phoenix Suns
Following a uncommon five-day break within the schedule, Phoenix’s playmaking duties shifted again towardsDevin Booker. And wins got here with it. The Suns went 2-1 final week and Booker averaged 9.5 assists throughout the victories. Phoenix is now 6-1 on the season when Booker tallies 8 or extra assists. — McMenamin
JJ Redick not too long ago likened his expertise as a first-year coach to enjoying Whac-A-Mole and that is been illustrated by him utilizing his mallet to hammer residence defensive enchancment as L.A. has held every of its previous 4 opponents beneath 110 factors. Within the meantime, the Lakers’ offense, which had been ranked fifth in effectivity, has plummeted to No. 9, with Redick’s group topping 110 themselves simply as soon as up to now six video games. — McMenamin
14. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks secured a spot within the NBA Cup event for a second straight season, after dropping within the semifinals final yr. The Bucks have formally rebounded from a 2-8 begin to climb again over .500. Milwaukee’s resurgence has been led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who averaged 22.8 paint factors in November — essentially the most in a calendar month by any participant since Shaquille O’Neal in March 2000. — Jamal Collier
Since his arrival in San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama has cautioned in opposition to placing him in a field. On any given night time, he is able to flashing the talent set of a guard, ahead, middle, slasher, dunker, shooter and shot blocker. You identify it, Wembanyama can do it. That is why San Antonio is so supportive of the 20-year-old phenom’s progress coming off his third profession triple-double in Sunday’s win over Sacramento. Wemby’s deep bag makes San Antonio a troublesome and unpredictable matchup for groups, which proceed to attempt alternative ways to attenuate his impression. — Wright
16. Miami Warmth
Whereas Jimmy Butler is coping with a knee harm that pressured him to take a seat out Monday’s loss to Boston, he is regarded like a special participant since a shift to a extra on-ball position and Terry Rozier again to the bench. And but, the Warmth nonetheless discover themselves beneath .500 and in a play-in spot within the East. That is not the place they anticipated to be in a weak convention. — Bontemps
Lower than per week after star Anthony Edwards known as the Wolves out for his or her lack of communication, Minnesota responded with consecutive wins. Monday was its greatest defensive efficiency of the season, holding the Lakers to a season-low 80 factors whereas getting again to .500. It is nonetheless a far cry from the place the Wolves need to be — they’re nonetheless on the skin of the Western Convention play-in image –but coach Chris Finch acknowledged it was a step in the appropriate path. — Collier
18. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks, winners of a season-high 4 video games in a row and again at .500, have discovered a pleasant groove since getting beforehand injured wings Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Andre Hunter again within the rotation. Each present exterior taking pictures and secondary playmaking, which makes life a bit simpler on Trae Younger, who early on confronted extra defensive strain due to their absences. Out of the blue, Atlanta has a powerful quantity of depth on each ends; a uncommon trait for the membership since its shock journey to the 2021 Japanese Convention finals. — Herring
19. Indiana Pacers
Indiana hopes the return of guard Andrew Nembhard can present a spark for its struggling group. Nembhard returned Sunday from a 12-game absence with a knee harm and scored 14 factors in quarter-hour whereas offering a defensive increase for a Pacers group in want of it. Indiana is hoping to get him up to the mark with a slate of Japanese Convention foes upcoming, together with Brooklyn, Chicago and Charlotte to spherical out the week. — Collier
20. Sacramento Kings
The Kings snapped a four-game dropping streak final Wednesday in Minnesota, however losses at Portland and at residence to San Antonio left Sacramento persevering with to tumble down the West standings. The Kings are actually twelfth within the convention, with a number of different postseason-worthy groups forward of them within the play-in spots. The state of affairs is dire sufficient that journeyman ahead Jae Crowder went from unsigned free agent this time final week to beginning two video games for Sacramento instead of injured DeMar DeRozan. — Pelton
21. Brooklyn Nets
With high scorer Cam Thomas sidelined for three to 4 weeks, the injury-plagued Nets will probably be turning a bit extra to ahead Cameron Johnson, who’s quietly within the midst of a profession season in scoring and effectivity. Johnson, 28, who made his identify as a job participant in Phoenix, is averaging 18 factors in Brooklyn. He is taking extra photographs from shut vary, whereas nonetheless knocking 42.2% of his 3s. Johnson flashed his scoring potential most final month when he erupted for 34 and 37 factors in back-to-back video games in opposition to the Hornets and Sixers, respectively. — Herring
22. Detroit Pistons
The truth that the Pistons entered Tuesday’s NBA Cup group stage finale in opposition to Milwaukee with an opportunity to win their group is a measure of their enchancment this season. Regardless of the loss to the Bucks, Detroit completed 3-1 in group play, having blown out the Pacers by 24 on the highway Friday. That is extra wins within the NBA Cup alone than the Pistons had in all video games final season earlier than Christmas. Moreover, the 24-point margin in Indiana was Detroit’s largest victory since April 2021.— Pelton
23. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls’ protection has been a significant challenge. They’re twenty seventh in defensive effectivity this season, surrendering greater than 135 factors 4 occasions up to now two weeks. It is the principle purpose — regardless of a fast-paced, efficient offense — they’re 9-13 and in eighth place within the Japanese Convention. — Collier
The Blazers stored their slim hopes of advancing within the NBA Cup alive Friday by beating the slumping Kings earlier than seeing their four-game residence profitable streak ended Sunday by the Mavericks. Aggressive losses are a superb signal for Portland, which entered Tuesday with the league’s largest common margin of defeat (18.4) regardless of having extra wins than six different groups. The Blazers’ depth — notably backup level guard Dalano Banton — has been a plus as they handle accidents to latest lottery picks Donovan Clingan (MCL sprain) and Scoot Henderson (quadriceps contusion). — Pelton
25. Toronto Raptors
Whereas Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley have missed massive chunks of this season with accidents, RJ Barrett has stepped up, averaging greater than 23 factors, 6 rebounds and 6 assists whereas taking pictures 45.7% from the sector and 35.7% from 3. If Barrett can increase his effectivity as Barnes works himself again into the lineup and when Quickley ultimately returns, he’ll match properly on the wing transferring ahead. — Bontemps
The most important information out of Charlotte over the previous week is LaMelo Ball‘s calf pressure, which the group mentioned would maintain him out for no less than two weeks. The membership, which has performed with out Ball for the overwhelming majority of the previous two seasons due to accidents, hopes for a speedy return, if solely due to the large impression the guard has on the Hornets’ offense. The membership’s offense is 12 factors higher per 100 possessions — primarily the identical margin between the first-ranked Knicks and Twenty fifth-ranked Charlotte — when Ball and his 31 factors per recreation are on the court docket. — Herring
An already small 76ers group took one more hit Saturday, when middle Andre Drummond suffered a sprained ankle that can sideline him for no less than three video games. That led the 76ers to signal 6-10 ahead Pete Nance — brother of Hawks ahead Larry Nance Jr. — to a two-way contract. The massive man Philly hopes to get again quickly, Joel Embiid, continues to take a seat for each left knee harm administration and private causes. — Bontemps
28. Utah Jazz
The Jazz have decided that it is best for Cody Williams to get his enjoying time within the G League at this level within the rookie lottery decide’s improvement, opening some rotation minutes for second-year wing Brice Sensabaugh. Sensabaugh has averaged 12.0 factors and shot 42.9% from 3-point vary coming into Tuesday night time, however the defensive finish has been a wrestle. The Jazz have allowed 125.3 factors per 100 possessions with Sensabaugh on the court docket in that span. — MacMahon
The Pelicans obtained a much-needed break popping out of Monday’s loss at Atlanta that ended a three-game highway journey. However a break in play will not rescue the wounded Pels. Over its subsequent 5 video games, New Orleans hosts Phoenix and Oklahoma Metropolis forward of matchups at San Antonio and Houston, adopted by a Dec. 21 conflict with the Knicks. In the meantime, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Hawkins and Herbert Jones stay out. By now, David Griffin is probably going pondering pulling the plug on the season to work towards acquiring a high decide in a loaded draft. — Wright
Washington’s sink to the abyss of the standings continued with a 31-point loss at Cleveland. The Wizards now have misplaced 15 straight video games, the final 9 by 10 or extra factors every. Making issues worse, Malcolm Brogdon, Kyshawn George and Corey Kispert all left the loss in Cleveland with accidents. And Kyle Kuzma is already sidelined with a rib harm. Washington’s subsequent 9 video games do not get any simpler, both. — Youngmisuk
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