The NBA Cup 2025 group stage concluded with a dramatic and defining night of competition, as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic clinched their knockout berths through intense winner-take-all victories. With six spots still available and several groups hinging on head-to-head tiebreakers, Friday’s slate produced the exact mix of urgency and unpredictability the NBA designed for its in-season tournament.
As the Thunder, Magic, Knicks and Heat secured the remaining positions, the updated NBA Cup bracket is now set for a high-stakes quarterfinal round beginning December 9.
Key Takeaways: How the NBA Cup 2025 Group Stage Locked in the Knockout Bracket
- Thunder secured West Group A with a 123–119 win over the Suns, finishing 4–0.
- Magic clinched East Group B after a 112–109 winner-take-all victory against Detroit.
- Knicks beat Milwaukee to win East Group C and eliminate the defending champs.
- Heat advanced as East wild card with the strongest differential among non-group winners.
- Three crucial groups—East B, West A and West C—decided by direct head-to-head contests.
- Updated NBA Cup bracket finalizes quarterfinal matchups for Dec. 9–10.
Thunder Outlast Suns: Oklahoma City Secures West’s Top Seed
The Oklahoma City Thunder entered Friday knowing the stakes: defeat the Suns, or risk missing the knockout stage despite an exceptional season. Behind another poised display by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC prevailed 123–119 to complete group play at 4–0 with a +75 point differential, the best in the West.
Thunder vs. Suns: Key Numbers
| Category | Thunder | Suns |
| Final Score | 123 | 119 |
| Group Record | 4–0 | 3–1 |
| Top Performer | Gilgeous-Alexander: 37 pts, 8 ast | — |
| Key Factor | Late-game composure, SGA’s and-1 finish | Fourth-quarter rally fell short |
The Thunder nearly saw a 15-point lead slip away, but Gilgeous-Alexander’s late basket sealed the game. Jalen Williams made his long-awaited season debut, contributing 11 points and eight assists despite limited rhythm after two wrist procedures.
The Suns, finishing 3–1, entered the West wild-card race. Their fate would hinge on point differential relative to the Clippers and Grizzlies.
Magic Survive Detroit’s Push as Bane’s 37 Propel Orlando to 4–0 Finish
In East Group B, the Orlando Magic claimed their knockout seat through a tough 112–109 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Desmond Bane delivered one of the standout performances of the group stage with 37 points, including the decisive and-1 inside the final minutes.
Magic vs. Pistons: Winner-Take-All Breakdown
| Category | Orlando | Detroit |
| Final Score | 112 | 109 |
| Group Record | 4–0 | 2–2 |
| Top Performer | Bane: 37 pts | Cunningham: 39 pts, triple-double |
| Key Play | Bane and-1 to reclaim lead | Fourth-quarter comeback fell short |
Detroit, fueled by Cade Cunningham’s 39-point triple-double, erased a 10-point deficit but could not close out the game. Orlando completed a perfect 4–0 run, posting a +61 point differential, securing the top Eastern seed in the NBA Cup bracket.
Knicks Beat Bucks to Win East Group C; Heat Claim Wild Card
The final pivotal matchup took place at Madison Square Garden where the Knicks defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 118–109, eliminating the defending NBA Cup champions and capturing the East Group C title.
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The Knicks improved to 3–1, winning the group due to their earlier victory over Miami. Coach Mike Brown praised his team’s control under pressure, noting their ability to “find a way” when the moment demanded it.
East Group C Qualification Path
| Team | Final Record | Differential | Outcome |
| Knicks | 3–1 | +35 | Group Winner |
| Heat | 3–1 | +49 | Wild Card |
| Bucks | 2–2 | +4 | Eliminated |
| Bulls | 1–2 | –42 | Eliminated |
| Hornets | 0–3 | –46 | Eliminated |
Miami, having completed group play at 3–1, secured the wild card due to its strong +49 differential—one Cleveland could not surpass despite its hopes entering Friday.
Final Group Standings That Defined the 2025 NBA Cup Bracket
Eastern Conference Groups
| Group | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| East A | Toronto (4–0, +55)* | Atlanta (2–2) | Cleveland (2–2) | Indiana (1–3) | Washington (1–3) |
| East B | Orlando (4–0, +61)* | Boston (2–2) | Detroit (2–2) | 76ers (1–3) | Nets (1–3) |
| East C | Knicks (3–1, +35)* | Miami (3–1) | Milwaukee (2–2) | Chicago (1–2) | Charlotte (0–3) |
Western Conference Groups
| Group | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| West A | OKC (4–0, +75)* | Phoenix (3–1) | Minnesota (2–2) | Kings (0–3) | Jazz (0–3) |
| West B | Lakers (3–0, +36)* | Clippers (2–1) | Grizzlies (2–1) | Dallas (1–2) | Pelicans (0–4) |
| West C | Denver (2–1) | Spurs (2–1) | Houston (2–2) | Portland (2–2) | Warriors (1–3) |
(* denotes group winner)
What the Updated NBA Cup Bracket Means for December’s Knockout Race
With the updated NBA Cup bracket finalized, the spotlight now shifts to the knockout round. Quarterfinal games on Dec. 9–10 will count toward regular-season standings, while the semifinals on Dec. 13 and the championship on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas carry significant competitive and financial stakes.
Quarterfinalists earn $53,903 per player, semifinalists $106,187, finalists $212,373, and the NBA Cup champions take home $530,933 each. Two-way players receive half these amounts.
With OKC and Orlando entering the knockout stage as powerful group winners, and the Knicks, Heat, and Raptors rounding out a compelling Eastern field, the race for the NBA Cup 2025 is primed for high-intensity matchups and postseason-like battles well before April.
FAQs on NBA Cup Bracket 2025
1. How did the Thunder qualify for the NBA Cup 2025 knockout stage?
The Thunder beat the Suns 123–119 in a winner-take-all game, finishing 4–0 with the West’s best point differential.
2. How did the Orlando Magic clinch East Group B in the NBA Cup 2025?
The Magic defeated the Pistons 112–109 behind Desmond Bane’s 37 points, completing a perfect 4–0 group-stage run.
3. Which teams qualified from East Group C in the NBA Cup 2025?
The Knicks won Group C by beating Milwaukee, while the Miami Heat advanced as the East wild card at 3–1.
4. What determined the NBA Cup 2025 wild-card spots?
Wild-card spots were decided by point differential among second-place teams. Miami and the West’s top remaining second-place team advanced.
5. When will the NBA Cup 2025 knockout games be played?
Quarterfinals are on Dec. 9–10, semifinals on Dec. 13, and the final on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
