Three weeks into the NBA Cup, the field is beginning to take shape, and Friday night only sharpened the picture.
The most lopsided result came in San Antonio, where the Warriors were buried early without Steph Curry and never recovered. The Spurs jumped ahead 18-0 just a few minutes into the first quarter and rolled to a 123-85 win. That result helped push Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio into a comfortable position for the No. 1 seed in the West, with the Spurs’ NBA Cup point differential now tied with Boston for the league lead at +53.
The other blowouts were just as decisive. Memphis handled the struggling Pelicans 142-111, while Portland kept its momentum going with a 120-107 win over the Kings.
The night’s tightest battle came in Los Angeles, where the Clippers and Thunder traded punches all the way down the stretch. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poured in 40 points, but Brook Lopez delivered late for the Clippers, who held on for a 113-112 upset over Oklahoma City.
“This is March? Nay, this is the Cup.”
With four NBA Cup nights still left on the calendar, the projected eight-team knockout bracket would look like this if the group stage ended now.
In the East, Boston is still sitting in the top spot despite not playing Friday. The Celtics remain the projected No. 1 seed thanks to a +53 point differential.
Miami, meanwhile, has started 2-0 in Cup play even though Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat have had a slow start overall this season. The Heat still have games left against the 76ers and Knicks.
The Magic moved into the No. 3 seed in East Group A after their eight-point win over the Bucks, and the Pistons would slip in as the wild card at 1-0.
Out West, San Antonio leads the way after its dominant night against Golden State. The Wolves, Mavericks and Nuggets would complete the projected field.
In Other News...
Clippers Had One Answer When OKC Tried To Take This One Late
The Thunder had every chance to flip a tight night in Los Angeles, but instead they walked away with a 113-112 loss to the Clippers and a third straight defeat. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried Oklahoma City with 40 points, keeping the game within reach and giving the Thunder the kind of late push they usually thrive on.
There was at least one encouraging development amid the frustration: third-year guard Nikola Topic made his season debut after a long road back from injuries and health setbacks. He did not fill up the scoring column, but he still found ways to help with rebounds, assists and steals, a useful sign for a team trying to steady itself while waiting for more of its rotation to come together. [Read more 🡒]
Doug McDermotts Retirement Brings Back A Mavericks Team-Building Reminder
Doug McDermotts retirement announcement brought a familiar name back into the conversation for NBA fans who remember how quickly he became a useful piece after entering the league in 2014. Over 12 seasons, the sharp-shooting forward carved out a long career with seven teams, including stops with the Bulls, Pacers and Kings, and he left behind the kind of rsum that reflects both consistency and adaptability.
For Oklahoma City, McDermotts path also serves as another reminder of how much roster churn can shape a franchises history, even in the margins. He spent a brief stretch with the Thunder early in his career before moving on in the Carmelo Anthony trade, and his retirement adds one more layer to a deal that still sits in the background of the teams team-building story. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Keep Getting Big Jared McCain Nights Without The Ending They Need
Jared McCain kept giving the Thunder the kind of jolt that can swing a tight NBA Cup game, scoring 23 points and punctuating the third quarter with a deep buzzer-beating three that had Oklahoma City in position to finish the night on a high note. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carried the offense with 40 points, and for stretches it looked like the Thunder had enough firepower to ride those big moments past the Clippers.
Instead, the closing sequence turned on one possession too many. McCain was involved in the foul that led to Darius Garlands and-1 late in the fourth quarter, and after that, Gilgeous-Alexanders potential winner at the buzzer did not fall, leaving Oklahoma City with a 113-112 loss and another standout McCain performance without the ending the Thunder wanted. [Read more 🡒]