Emirates NBA Cup Group Play: Top Predictions and Trending Topics

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The Group Play stage of the Emirates NBA Cup begins Tuesday, Nov. 12. Which eight teams will advance to the Knockout Round?

Steve Aschburner

In the East:

Knicks (East A)Heat (East B)Celtics (East C)Cavaliers (Wild Card from East A)

The NBA Cup was something the Celtics left un-won last season, and I think they clean that omission up this time. Pencil in Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown as MVP, too. In the past, I had reservations about how seriously Miami treats the regular season but this tournament should coincide with some urgency now. Knicks grind, Cavs have momentum.

In the West:

Timberwolves (West A)Suns (West B)Mavericks (West C)Warriors (Wild Card from West C)

I would have gone with OKC to advance if not for Chet Holmgren’s (ouch!) pelvic fracture suffered on Sunday. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards is ripe for the Las Vegas stage and the Suns are the cream of the crop. Group C is rugged but imagine the NBA’s delight at getting Luka Dončić and Stephen Curry into the Knockout Round.

Brian Martin

In the East:

Knicks (East A)Pacers (East B)Celtics (East C)Cavaliers (Wild Card from East C)

Cleveland will eventually lose a game, and I see one coming Nov. 19 in Boston, giving the Celtics the group edge and forcing the Cavs into the Wild Card. Injuries to the Magic and Sixers have cleared the way for New York in East A, while Indy is the only team in East B at .500, winning four of its last six entering Group Play.

In the West:

Timberwolves (West A)Suns (West B)Warriors (West C)Lakers (Wild Card from West B)

West A (four teams at 6-4 through 10 games) and West C (three teams in the West’s top five, plus the defending West champs) will likely beat up on one another in Group Play and hurt the Wild Card chances of a second-place team. West B opens up due to injuries. Kevin Durant (calf) should return during Group Play for Phoenix, while Chet Holmgren (hip) is out for OKC, opening the door for the defending Cup champs to grab a Wild Card.

Shaun Powell

In the East:

Knicks (East A)Heat (East B)Celtics (East C)Nets (Wild Card from East A)

Injuries could impact the outcome in the East, where the preseason-favored Sixers and Bucks have been shortchanged (injuries to Joel Embiid and Khris Middleton, respectively), although there could be a reset in both places before Group Play is over. The defending NBA champ Celtics are in for a fight against the feisty Cavs in Group C, while the hungry and surprising Nets aim to give their season some legitimacy with a Knockout Round advancement.

In the West:

Timberwolves (West A)Thunder (West B)Nuggets (West C)Warriors (Wild card from West C)

All eyes are on the West C, the most competitive of all groups. The Nuggets have recovered from an opening-week stumble, the Mavericks are the defending West champs, the Warriors are off to a solid start and Memphis could spoil (if Ja Morant returns quickly from his hip issue). Speaking of injuries, Kevin Durant’s calf strain comes at a risky time for the Suns and their chances of tripping OKC in Group B.

John Schuhmann

In the East:

Knicks (East A)Pacers (East B)Celtics (East C)Cavaliers (Wild card from East C)

The Pacers haven’t been great, but East B has been, easily, the weakest group in the league thus far. That’s followed by East A, which the Knicks should win with Magic star Paolo Banchero (torn oblique) out. East C will come down to the Cavs-Celtics winner (the game is in Boston next Tuesday), with the other likely building a comfortable point margin against Atlanta, Chicago and Washington

In the West:

Timberwolves (West A)Suns (West B)Nuggets (West C)Warriors (Wild card from West C)

Despite injuries to Kevin Durant and Chet Holmgren, the winner of Suns-Thunder on Friday should have the edge in West B. The Wolves are starting to get some stops and should win Group A, while Denver will have its two toughest Group C games — vs. Dallas and Golden State — at home. There’s no clear favorite to snag the wildcard, but the Warriors have been terrific to start the season