01.11.2025
Indiana Pacers 108 - 128 Atlanta Hawks
In an NBA Cup group play match, the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Indiana Pacers 128-108, capitalizing on the Pacers' injury woes. Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 21 points, helping Atlanta maintain the lead after taking control in the second quarter. Despite missing Trae Young due to a knee sprain, the Hawks outperformed Indiana, especially in the third quarter with a decisive 10-0 run that increased their lead to 21 points. The Pacers, who remain winless at 0-5, were missing several key players, including Obi Toppin due to a stress fracture and Tyrese Halliburton, who may be out for the season with a torn Achilles. Pascal Siakam and Jarace Walker contributed 18 and 17 points respectively for the Pacers, but their efforts were overshadowed by Atlanta's dominant performance, including shooting 18.9 percentage points better from the field. The Hawks now travel to face the Cavaliers, while the Pacers will meet the Warriors next.
Philadelphia 76ers 108 - 109 Boston Celtics
In a thrilling game, the Boston Celtics narrowly defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 109-108, with Jaylen Brown leading the charge with 32 points. Despite building a 20-point lead in the first half, the Celtics faced a fierce comeback from the 76ers, who were previously unbeaten this season. Tyrese Maxey spearheaded Philadelphia’s rally with 26 points, pulling them within one point in the final seconds, but he missed a crucial underhand scoop shot that could have sealed the victory. Joel Embiid, playing under a minutes restriction post-knee surgery, added 20 points in 25 minutes but missed a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. This tightly contested match was the first for both teams in the NBA Cup, and it saw Boston level its season record to .500 by claiming its third consecutive victory after a rocky start. Rookie VJ Edgecombe also made an impact with 17 points after an impressive debut against the Celtics. The Celtics will face the Miami Heat next, while the 76ers head to Brooklyn.
Cleveland Cavaliers 101 - 112 Toronto Raptors
In an exciting NBA Cup opener, the Toronto Raptors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-101, with Jamison Battle leading his team with 20 points and crucially hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the final minutes to ensure the victory. Despite missing key players Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen due to injuries, the Cavaliers remained competitive, thanks to Evan Mobley's 29 points and D'Andre Hunter's 26. RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram also contributed 20 points each to the Raptors' effort, ending the team's four-game losing streak. The Raptors overcame a 10-point deficit in the third quarter, reclaiming the lead after a key shot by Scottie Barnes, who finished with a double-double. The Cavaliers mounted a brief comeback in the fourth quarter, but Battle sealed the win for Toronto with a decisive three-pointer.
Chicago Bulls 135 - 125 New York Knicks
The Chicago Bulls extended their hot start to the season by defeating the New York Knicks 135-125, improving to 5-0 for their best start since the 1996-97 season when they went 12-0 and eventually won the championship. Josh Giddey led the charge with a career-high 32 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, while Nikola Vucevic contributed 26 points. Key performances also came from Ayo Dosunmu, who scored 22 points off the bench, and Coach Billy Donovan, who celebrated his 200th win with Chicago. The Knicks launched a significant comeback in the second half, reducing a 22-point deficit to just two points in the fourth quarter, powered by Jalen Brunson's 29 points and OG Anunoby's 26. Despite Karl-Anthony Towns playing through a right quad strain and a hard fall, he added 22 points and 10 rebounds. Both teams relied heavily on 3-pointers, with Chicago shooting 53.6% from the floor compared to New York’s 49.5%. Key contributions from Mitchell Robinson, who returned from injury, and Guerschon Yabusele, who returned after a one-game absence, added depth to the Knicks' roster. The two teams will face each other again in New York on Sunday.
Memphis Grizzlies 112 - 117 Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic made an impressive return after missing three games by scoring 44 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out six assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 117-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in their NBA Cup opener. This marked Doncic's 11th consecutive game scoring at least 25 points against Memphis. Austin Reaves contributed 21 points to the Lakers' effort, while Jake LaRavia added 13. For the Grizzlies, Jock Landale and Jaylen Wells each scored 16 points, with Jaren Jackson Jr. contributing 15 points. Despite Ja Morant being limited to just eight points on 3-for-14 shooting, the Grizzlies managed to mount a 42-point second quarter, including an impressive 27-4 run, to secure a 69-55 halftime lead. However, the Lakers, without LeBron James due to injury, clawed back in the third quarter with Doncic scoring 16 points, leading to a game of back-and-forth leads with 14 lead changes and seven ties before Los Angeles took control in the final period. Both teams are set to play again on Sunday, with the Lakers hosting Miami and the Grizzlies visiting Toronto.
Phoenix Suns 118 - 96 Utah Jazz
In a thrilling prelude to the NBA Cup, the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns are set to clash again on Friday, with the Suns eager to avenge their previous overtime loss. Lauri Markkanen of the Jazz continues to impress, averaging 34 points per game and ranking fifth in the league for scoring. Despite their recent struggles, including a narrow defeat to Memphis due to costly turnovers, the Suns are adapting to coach Jordan Ott's fast-paced approach, attempting to resolve their turnover challenges and improve their shooting. Notably, Mark Williams has emerged with consecutive double-doubles, signaling promise in his initial starts. The Jazz recently snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Suns, and Friday's game offers Phoenix a chance to end their own four-game skid. Grouped with powerhouses like Oklahoma City, Minnesota, and Sacramento, both teams are striving for NBA Cup qualification, where the best from each group enter knockout rounds leading to the final on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
Portland Trail Blazers 109 - 107 Denver Nuggets
In a closely contested matchup, the Portland Trail Blazers edged out the Denver Nuggets, who came into the game on a three-game winning streak with an average victory margin of 23 points. The spotlight was on Nikola Jokic, who was on the brink of making NBA history by becoming the first player to start a season with five straight triple-doubles. Despite this, Jokic remained focused on team success rather than individual accolades. In their previous game, Jokic's stellar performance of 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists helped the Nuggets to a comfortable win over the New Orleans Pelicans, where they amassed 40 assists and dominated the boards with a 56-36 rebounding edge. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers narrowly secured a 136-134 victory over the Utah Jazz, nearly squandering a substantial lead. Jrue Holiday, a recent acquisition, contributed significantly with a season-high 27 points and has been consistently impressive, averaging 19.6 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds. Portland's high-scoring pace was evident, having scored at least 122 points in all their wins, with forward Deni Avdija noting the team's strong identity and effort each night. The teams are part of the NBA Cup's West Group C, alongside the Warriors, Rockets, and Spurs, with each game being crucial in the round-robin competition leading to the championship game in December.
LA Clippers 126 - 124 New Orleans Pelicans
In a thrilling game summary, Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater sealed a victory for the Los Angeles Clippers against the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Cup opener in Inglewood, California. Despite a previous 98-79 loss to the Golden State Warriors, marking their lowest scoring since October 2021, the Clippers were eager to improve. Their second half performance against the Warriors, riddled with turnovers and missed three-pointers, highlighted the absence of Bradley Beal due to back soreness. Fortunately, Beal is set to return, bringing hope to the Clippers, who boast a strong 2-0 home record. Conversely, the Pelicans are struggling early in the season with a 0-4 record and poor shooting, compounded by injuries to Dejounte Murray and Kevon Looney. Rookie Jeremiah Fears shone with a career-high 21 points against Denver, but the Pelicans are clearly missing consistent teamwork, as noted by head coach Willie Green. Historically, New Orleans has had the upper hand in their Los Angeles matchups, yet this year finds them in a tough position.