29.11.2025
Atlanta Hawks 130 - 123 Cleveland Cavaliers
In a thrilling NBA Cup game, the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-123, knocking Cleveland out of the in-season tournament. Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with an impressive triple-double, recording 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 28 points, including a critical 3-pointer that sparked a quick 7-0 run late in the game. Despite Donovan Mitchell's 42-point effort for the Cavaliers, marking his sixth 30-point game in the last eight outings, the Hawks outperformed in crunch time. Notably, Atlanta remained stout defensively in the final minutes, holding Cleveland scoreless over the last 2:03. Both teams had significant scoring runs during the game, with Atlanta's dominant first-quarter streak and Cleveland's strong second quarter rally, highlighting the back-and-forth intensity. The teams have evenly split their two regular-season encounters thus far, each winning at home, with two more meetings scheduled for April. Up next, the Cavaliers face the Boston Celtics, while the Hawks take on the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brooklyn Nets 103 - 115 Philadelphia 76ers
In a compelling NBA Cup matchup, the Philadelphia 76ers secured a 115-103 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, driven by strong performances from Tyrese Maxey with 22 points and Jared McCain's 20 off the bench. Despite missing key players Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe, and losing Andre Drummond to a knee injury mid-game, the 76ers managed to break their two-game losing streak. Notably, Egor Demin achieved a career-high 23 points for a struggling Brooklyn team, which has now lost three consecutive games and remains winless at home this season, last clinching a home victory in April against New Orleans. The 76ers maintained an edge throughout, even as the Nets attempted to rally with late-game runs. Quentin Grimes played a pivotal role for Philadelphia, adding 19 points and assisting in sealing the game with an important pass to Adem Bona for a decisive three-pointer. Both the 76ers and Nets hold a 1-3 record in NBA Cup play, with Philadelphia next facing Atlanta and Brooklyn set to play in Milwaukee.
Charlotte Hornets 123 - 116 Chicago Bulls
Brandon Miller's impressive 27-point performance led the Charlotte Hornets to a 123-116 victory over the Chicago Bulls, snapping a seven-game losing streak. Miles Bridges contributed significantly with 22 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Collin Sexton added 21 points off the bench. The Hornets successfully limited the Bulls' success from beyond the arc, holding them to just 8 of 36 shooting. LaMelo Ball improved on his previous performance against the Knicks by adding 16 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. For the Bulls, Josh Giddey was close to a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, while Coby White scored 25 points. The game, which was the final NBA Cup group match for both teams, saw the Hornets regain control in the fourth quarter after a run by the Bulls. The match also included an incident involving Giddey and a fan, resulting in the fan's ejection after a brief confrontation. The win marked a positive return for Miller, who was easing back from a shoulder injury.
Detroit Pistons 109 - 112 Orlando Magic
In a thrilling game, the Orlando Magic edged out the Detroit Pistons 112-109 to claim victory in East Group B of the NBA Cup. Desmond Bane was pivotal for the Magic, scoring 37 points and securing two crucial offensive rebounds in the game's final moments. The Magic, who went 4-0 in group play, overcame a remarkable triple-double by Detroit's Cade Cunningham, who delivered 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. Despite Cunningham's efforts, the Pistons, who had previously enjoyed a 13-game winning streak, have now lost two consecutive games and did not advance with a 2-2 group record. A late-game surge, fueled by Bane's three-point play and timely contributions from Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, solidified Orlando's win. The Pistons had a chance to send the game into overtime, but Duncan Robinson's potential tying 3-pointer was blocked by Anthony Black, sealing the Magic's hard-fought victory.
Indiana Pacers 119 - 86 Washington Wizards
In a game featuring two of the NBA's struggling teams, the Indiana Pacers secured a commanding 119-86 victory over the Washington Wizards in an NBA Cup match-up. Pascal Siakam led the way for the Pacers with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Bennedict Mathurin contributed 20 points. T.J. McConnell added 14 points and dished out eight assists, helping Indiana snap a three-game losing streak and improve to a 3-16 record. The Pacers have been significantly impacted by the absence of Tyrese Haliburton, who tore his right Achilles in the Finals against Oklahoma City. The Wizards, who recently ended a 14-game losing streak with a win over Atlanta, dropped to 2-16, falling to last place. Despite Alex Sarr's 24-point effort for Washington, Indiana maintained their lead throughout the game, finishing strong with Siakam's impressive first-half performance propelling them to victory. Both teams still sit at 1-3 in NBA Cup play.
New York Knicks 118 - 109 Milwaukee Bucks
The New York Knicks secured a 118-109 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, winning East Group C and advancing to the knockout round of the NBA Cup, thanks to Jalen Brunson's impressive 37-point performance. Brunson, who returned from a right ankle sprain, played a pivotal role in turning a one-point halftime deficit into a four-point lead by the end of the third quarter, and his three-point play in the final minutes helped close out the game. Miles McBride contributed with crucial 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, while Josh Hart added 19 points and 15 rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo, returning from a groin injury, had a standout performance for the Bucks with 30 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists, but it wasn't enough to prevent Milwaukee's seventh consecutive loss and elimination from the tournament despite an impressive shooting display that included 18 made 3-pointers.
Oklahoma City Thunder 123 - 119 Phoenix Suns
The Oklahoma City Thunder secured a pivotal win against the Phoenix Suns in the deciding game of NBA Cup's West Group A on Friday, markedly enhancing their position to advance to the knockout stage with a noteworthy plus-71 point differential. Despite the Thunder's strong standing, the Suns remain well-positioned to progress, boasting a plus-35 differential. The game was notable for the return of Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams, who played his first game of the season following wrist surgeries, and for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is nearing a significant personal milestone with a consecutive 20-point game streak that could tie Wilt Chamberlain's second-longest record. The Thunder are on a 10-game winning streak, aiming to match the second-best 20-game start in NBA history at 19-1. Meanwhile, the Suns have bounced back from a rocky start, winning 11 of their last 14 games and are eager to measure themselves against top Western Conference contenders. Friday's game is the first of four anticipated contests between the teams this season, with a potential face-off in next week's NBA Cup knockout stage.
Denver Nuggets 136 - 139 San Antonio Spurs
In a thrilling game, the San Antonio Spurs edged the Denver Nuggets 139-136 to advance to the NBA Cup quarterfinals, led by Devin Vassell's season-high 33 points, including impressive 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Despite missing key players like Victor Wembanyama to injury, the Spurs managed a remarkable comeback from an 18-point third-quarter deficit, aided by Julian Champagnie's 25 points and 30 points off 17 Nuggets turnovers. Meanwhile, Jamal Murray shone for Denver with 37 points, achieving a career milestone by becoming the fifth player in franchise history to surpass 10,000 points. The Nuggets, who were also without starters Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, built a strong first-half lead, but the Spurs' sharpshooting and resilience overcame the odds. Notably, Nikola Jokic delivered a spectacular behind-the-back assist, though it wasn't enough to secure a home victory for the Nuggets.
Utah Jazz 128 - 119 Sacramento Kings
The Utah Jazz defeated the Sacramento Kings 128-119, ending a four-game losing streak, thanks to standout performances by Keyonte George, who scored 31 points, and Lauri Markkanen, who added 28. Brice Sensabaugh also contributed with 20 points. Despite Russell Westbrook achieving his 206th career triple-double with 16 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds, the Kings, led by Zach LaVine's 34 points and Keegan Murray's 23 points and nine rebounds, remained winless in NBA Cup group play. After trailing by 11 at halftime, the Kings closed the gap to just two points, only for the Jazz to reclaim control with George's crucial back-to-back 3-pointers. Utah's strong defensive stretch, holding Sacramento without a field goal for six minutes, and a significant 20-2 run highlighted by Markkanen, helped them establish a commanding lead they maintained through the game.
Los Angeles Lakers 129 - 119 Dallas Mavericks
The Los Angeles Lakers secured a flawless 4-0 record in Group B of the NBA Cup after a strong performance against the Dallas Mavericks, led by Luka Doncic facing his former team. Already advancing to the quarterfinals, the Lakers showcased a dominant trio in Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James, who led them to a notable 135-118 win over the Los Angeles Clippers earlier in the week. Doncic delivered an impressive 43 points, 13 assists, and nine rebounds, while Reaves and James added significant contributions. With LeBron James seamlessly adapting to Doncic's leadership, the Lakers set a high offensive tone. Meanwhile, the Mavericks suffered a 106-102 loss to the Miami Heat, struggling without key player Dereck Lively II, as P.J. Washington led with 27 points. The potential return of Anthony Davis from injury adds intrigue, as he weighs participating in upcoming games against the Clippers after missing 14 games.
LA Clippers 107 - 112 Memphis Grizzlies
The Los Angeles Clippers hosted the Memphis Grizzlies in a crucial game with both teams vying for a spot in the NBA Cup knockout round, amidst a challenging season start for the Clippers, who've only managed five wins in 18 games. Despite Kawhi Leonard's recent return and contribution of 19.5 points across two games, the Clippers still struggle defensively, as highlighted in their recent loss to the Lakers. Meanwhile, James Harden has been in formidable form, top-scoring in several games, including a 55-point outing against the Hornets. On the Memphis side, Jaren Jackson Jr. showcased his scoring prowess with 27 points against the Pelicans. Rising star Jaylen Wells continued impressively, averaging 23.5 points in his last two games, while Vince Williams Jr. excelled with a career-high 17 assists in Morant's absence. Memphis' coach praised Wells' composure and consistent performance, as the Grizzlies aimed to extend their successful streak against Los Angeles.