Hawks' Trae Young has career-high 22 assists to stun Cavaliers
CLEVELAND -- Trae Young had a career-high 22 assists -- the most in the NBA this season -- and scored 20 points as the Atlanta Hawks handed Cleveland just its second loss this season, beating the Cavaliers 135-124 on Thursday night.
The Cavs fell to 17-2 and lost for the first time in 11 home games.
De'Andre Hunter scored 26 points and Jalen Johnson 22 for the Hawks, who made all the big plays down the stretch to stun the Cavs. Rookie Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, scored 13 of his 17 points in the first three minutes of the second half for Atlanta.
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and Evan Mobley added 22 points and 13 rebounds for Cleveland, which was trying to become the first team to start 18-1 or better.
TAKEAWAYS
Hawks: Young didn't have his best shooting night (6-of-18), but the league's assists leader got all his teammates involved. Atlanta ended a three-game losing streak and recorded its second big road win this season after winning in Boston on Nov. 12 without Young.
Cavaliers: Finally showed some vulnerability at home after being so dominant. Cleveland built an early 19-point lead that might have given it a false sense of security.
The teams meet again Friday in an NBA Cup game in Atlanta. The Hawks (2-1) are tied for first in Group C while the Cavs (1-1) have two games left in pool play.
Warriors' Stephen Curry ruled out vs. Thunder with knee pain
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Golden State Warriors ruled out star point guard Stephen Curry for Wednesday night's game against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder because of pain in both knees.
Curry was downgraded to out on the NBA injury report with bilateral knee, patellofemoral pain.
Jonathan Kuminga returned to practice after missing two games with illness, and coach Steve Kerr said the forward looked good. Curry was held out of practice Tuesday, as was Draymond Green for what Kerr cited as maintenance reasons.
Kerr said he believes Curry will be ready to play in Golden State's next game at Phoenix on Saturday. Curry will have four days of rest between games.
"He's been banged up the last week," Kerr said before the Warriors played the Thunder. "His knees have been bothering him. This wasn't a surprise. ... Hopefully this gives Steph the time he needs in the next couple of days to get ready for our road trip.
"At 36, you're just going to have more aches and pains. Fortunately the MRI he had yesterday was negative. He needs some time to clear the tendinitis that's in his knees right now, and hopefully the next couple of days will do that."
Curry logged 29 minutes and had 28 points and seven assists in Monday's loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Warriors (12-5) have already played one stretch without their superstar this season, going 3-0 when Curry was out with a peroneal strain in his left ankle from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2.
After getting out to a 10-2 start, Golden State has dropped three of its past five games, and the schedule only gets tougher. After Phoenix on Saturday, the Warriors face Denver, Houston, Minnesota (three times) and Memphis.
Sources: Nets' Cam Thomas (hamstring) out 3-4 weeks
Brooklyn Nets rising star Cam Thomas will miss three to four weeks because of a left hamstring strain, sources told ESPN.
Thomas, 23, suffered the strain while leading consecutive impressive road victories in the Bay Area, scoring 34 points on 11-of-22 shooting in a win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday then 23 points on 6-of-11 from the field in a win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday.
In his fourth NBA season, the guard -- already known as a dynamic scorer -- has made a leap in efficiency. After scoring 22.5 points per game in 2023-24, Thomas is averaging career highs across the board amid an All-Star-caliber start to the season: 24.7 points, 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 46.1% shooting from the field and 38.9% shooting from 3-point range.
Thomas ranks 14th in the NBA in scoring.
The Nets are 8-10 entering Wednesday's road game against the Suns and are currently competing for a postseason berth in the Eastern Conference.
Hawks fined $100K for holding Trae Young out in NBA Cup game
The NBA fined the Atlanta Hawks $100,000 on Tuesday after an investigation determined that guard Trae Young could have played in an NBA Cup game against the Boston Celtics on Nov. 12.
The Hawks listed Young on their injury report that night as out because of tendinitis in his right Achilles. Atlanta wound up winning the game anyway 117-116.
The issue, the NBA said, was that the Hawks were in violation of the league's player participation policy -- which focuses primarily on what the league defines as star players, a group that Young would qualify for since he was an All-Star selection last season. By league rule, "unless a team demonstrates an approved reason for a star player not to participate in a game," it must have the star players "for all national television and NBA In-Season Tournament games."
"Following an investigation, including review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that the Hawks held Young out of a game that he could have played in under the medical standard in the policy," the league said. "The organization's conduct violated the policy, which is intended to promote participation in the NBA's regular season."
That game against the Celtics is the only one Young has missed this season.
Leaks, team meetings, losses: The factors driving the Philadelphia 76ers' dreadful start
THE JULY 6 POST on Daryl Morey's Instagram page is even more perfectly staged than anyone in the photo realized. Morey, the Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations is on the left, dressed in all black with a blue suit jacket. General manager Elton Brand has his arm around him. Free agent forward Paul George, wearing sweat shorts and an Allen Iverson T-shirt, has his arms around owner Josh Harris and assistant general manager Peter Dinwiddie. And none other than Hall of Famer Julius Erving is on the far right, with a black leather baseball cap in his hand.
It was taken in the wee hours of the night of July 1 after George committed to sign a four-year, $212 million deal and the Sixers began their victory lap as the unofficial winners of the NBA's offseason.
Everyone in the photo looks happy, tired from the long journey but comfortable in their socks after the two-hour meeting at George's house in West Los Angeles.
Yes, socks.
Each of the men had taken off their shoes before entering George's house so as not to track dirt and whatever else might've traveled with them onto his hardwood floors.
But as anyone who has followed the Sixers during their disastrous 3-13 start to this season has long since learned, none of the baggage was left at the door.
Philadelphia hasn't just scuffled out of the gates. What was celebrated as a championship-level roster has nose-dived to the second-worst record in the NBA. Joel Embiid has played in just four of those games because of knee injury management or suspension. George has played in just eight games after two scary-looking left knee hyperextensions. All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey has missed six games with a hamstring injury.
And just to underscore how much karmic detritus the Sixers have had to confront already this season, this week the NBA schedule-makers assigned them games against the teams they've made seismic, league-altering trades with in the past four years: first, an ugly 113-98 win at home over one of the original, now-fallen sons of "The Process," Ben Simmons, and the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.
Then, two days later, a dispiriting 125-99 loss to James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday; and then Wednesday's home game against the Houston Rockets, who are surging after the savvy rebuild with the players and draft picks they acquired in the first Harden trade.
The offseason victory lap has long since turned into a desperate sprint toward a more tepid goal: winning enough games to stay within striking distance of a play-in tournament appearance, which team sources estimate will take at least 33 wins in the putrid Eastern Conference. Philadelphia entered the season projected to win 51.5 games.
Already this season, Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, responded to critics who questioned his desire to play, saying, "I've done way too much for this f---ing city to be treated like this." Days later, Embiid was suspended three games by the league for shoving a reporter who mentioned Embiid's son and late brother in a critical column. In a team meeting, Maxey called out Embiid for being "late to everything," which resulted in Embiid and George calling out whomever leaked the story to ESPN. And perhaps most troubling of all -- Maxey made a plea to "play with some pride" after Sunday's loss.
"Except for [Jared] McCain, everything that could go wrong, has gone wrong," one team source said.
On good days the Sixers remind themselves the season is long and their three stars have played exactly six minutes together so far. They remind themselves that they're only one 4-1 week away from getting back into the playoff picture, like the Milwaukee Bucks just did.
On bad days, they hear the growing league chatter that they should soon think about packing it in as their first-round pick in this year's otherworldly draft is top-six protected or owed to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Still, every day they walk by signs in Wells Fargo Arena with pictures of Maxey, Embiid and George that tout, rather ironically, how they were, "Made For This."
ON JULY 23, in front of a blue Sixers lectern, and next to a smiling George and Josh Harris, Morey introduced the nine-time All-Star and said this season was about putting three "really, really great players together" and surrounding Embiid with the kind of roster that could help the Sixers contend for a championship.
He said the same when Harden was there and Maxey was emerging as a cornerstone. And he said it about Simmons before that. So had former coach Brett Brown about Jimmy Butler and Markelle Fultz before that.
At heart, Morey is a man of analytics and strategy. Each year he builds a team that he believes gives them the best probability to win a championship. His formula for calculating that probability is proprietary, but championship contenders usually have a 5-10% chance of winning -- except the dynastic Warriors, whom Morey's formula once had at close to 70% to win a title after they added Kevin Durant in 2016.
Vegas oddsmakers assign values to each team's chances in the preseason, too. The Sixers entered the season with the fourth-highest odds to win the title, at roughly 8-1, per ESPN Bet. This year, the Sixers came in with what Morey had determined was the highest chance to win of any team he had assembled, including the 2018 Houston Rockets team that pushed the Warriors to the brink in the Western Conference finals.
That calculus was based on the premise that Philadelphia had won the offseason by signing George and role players such as Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon to pair with Maxey and Embiid. But it was also based on the so-far misguided idea that the Sixers' three stars would be healthy for a sustained period of time.
The team and Embiid had sought half a dozen medical opinions before signing him to a three-year, $192.7M extension this September, sources said, and all of those consulted believed his knee could be adequately managed by a combination of strategic rest and procedures to promote healing, which Embiid has been regularly undergoing since last season.
Both the team and Embiid hoped his troublesome knee would be healthy enough to start the season, sources said. Yet week after week, the Sixers would issue updates that he was still out, but they were hopeful he'd be ready soon.
At first it seemed as though he simply needed more time to work his way back into shape after taking time off following the Summer Olympics. But as the preseason wore on, it was clear to anyone who saw him that Embiid's knee wasn't right.
When he finally debuted on Nov. 12 against the New York Knicks, his usual burst out of a 3-point stance was slow, and he was passive in attacking the rim. He scored 13 points on 2-of-11 shooting in 26 minutes.
The Sixers lost 111-99.
THERE ARE ENDLESS reminders of how high the Sixers were after landing George as a free agent this summer.
There was Harris, saying over and over that the Sixers were "all-in" with this move during George's introductory news conference.
There was Embiid, proudly saying that with George now on the team, he would probably never play in another back-to-back again as he tried to safeguard his health for the playoffs.
There was George, who on his podcast characterized the Clippers as the "B-team" in L.A., only to be mocked by Clippers fans who brought signs that read, "Think before you speak, PG," as he and the Sixers lost their first game back in Los Angeles on Nov. 6, 110-98.
The harsher pills to swallow are the face-to-face confrontations with characters from Philadelphia's past such as Harden, who dropped a cool 23 points and eight assists in three quarters against his former team Sunday evening.
The home fans showed up fully intending to take their frustrations of the season out on Harden throughout the game, booing him during pregame introductions and virtually every time he touched the ball early on.
But the Clippers built such a large lead so quickly, it was hard to maintain the vitriol.
Afterward Harden shrugged when asked if there was any extra emotion to the game back in Philadelphia, saying he'd moved on, then noting that life really was better on his new team, which had just won its fifth straight game despite playing without star forward Kawhi Leonard all season.
"One thing about this [Clippers] team, we're all happy for each other," Harden said. "It can be anybody's night on any given night and nobody is going to be upset, everybody is going to be happy for each other."
The matchup with Simmons was more sad than cruel last Friday.
For years the Philly fans booed him heartily each time he returned to face the team he forced his way out of in 2022. Embiid wouldn't even say his name, referring to him by his number and only when he had to.
But so much has gone wrong for Simmons and his former team in the years they've been apart that Simmons' presence back in Philadelphia barely registered this time. He'd even reached out to Embiid and others last summer, league sources said, hoping to mend fences. Simmons, who is in the final year of his contract in Brooklyn, has shown how he can still impact a game with his passing, length and defense. But in the second quarter of the game Friday, he also missed the rim on a layup in a clip that quickly went viral -- reminding everyone of how his time in Philadelphia went awry. Could they ever try to figure it out together again? One source called it unlikely, but stranger things have happened. Especially with the Sixers.
In another cruel coincidence, all of the other teams the Sixers seemed to beat in the offseason when they landed George have thrived thus far. The Clippers have overachieved at 11-7. The Warriors, who made a spirited play to trade for George, are leading the Western Conference at 12-4. The New York Knicks, who league sources said opted to trade for Mikal Bridges rather than pursue George, are 9-7. And the Denver Nuggets, who held onto their young core of Christian Braun, Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson, rather than engage in deeper discussions to trade for George, are 9-6, despite significant injury woes.
About the only bright spot for Philadelphia has been rookie guard Jared McCain, who has become a leading contender for Rookie of the Year after being pressed into service by the injuries to Maxey and veteran guard Kyle Lowry. McCain has scored 20 or more in seven of their past 10 games and is leading all rookies in points per game (16.6) and viral TikTok videos.
On Nov. 18, Embiid got sick the night before the Sixers were scheduled to play in Miami. After he missed shootaround, the Sixers downgraded him to doubtful on the injury report. But within a couple hours of the game, Embiid sent word that he intended to give it a go.
While the team appreciated Embiid's effort to play, the uncertainty over his availability had hurt preparations for the game, sources said. He scored 11 points in 31 minutes in the 106-89 loss.
In the four games Embiid has played this season, the Sixers are winless -- a dramatic reversal from last year when the Sixers went 31-8 in games Embiid played but just 16-27 in games he missed.
Throughout his career, Embiid has generally kept to himself when he was sick or injured. But with the team reeling, Maxey felt he should be with the team at shootarounds and meetings and said so in an hour-long team meeting after the loss in Miami.
Embiid took those words to heart, team sources said, and wasn't angry with Maxey. But he and other players also aired frustration with the coaching staff and each other at not always knowing what they were trying to accomplish on both ends of the court.
Nurse acknowledged the meeting in his postgame comments in Miami, noting it was the reason he was over an hour late.
"We need to start winning," Nurse said. "[The] meeting was brutally honest. Everybody wants the team to succeed and right now we're not. We're losing and there's all kinds of issues and reasons for why, and we're trying to get it taken care of. We knew at the beginning of the season that we needed to be healthy and we needed to have some things come together quickly. So far, none of that has happened. So, I think everybody just needed to get these things on the table, and I think in that sense, [the] meeting was a step for us in the right direction."
That was supposed to be it. Air was cleared, words were said. But the next morning, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on the details of the meeting, further exacerbating the tension and lack of trust in the locker room, sources said.
It's hard to say where all this bad karma originated.
It's even harder to know when -- or if -- it will stop.
NBA Power Rankings: Biggest lessons learned so far from all 30 teams
We're a little over a month into the 2024-25 NBA season and we're already past the halfway point of the NBA Cup group phase with teams facing knockout round clinching scenarios this week.
Some teams are dominating in group play, while others are focusing on the long-term goals of the regular season. Either way, every game counts when it comes to our weekly rankings.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are separating themselves from the rest of the Eastern Conference, riding one of the best starts in franchise history with their only loss coming at the hands of their biggest rival, the Boston Celtics.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors appear to be in championship form again and are chasing the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are currently leading a stacked Western Conference.
This week, we asked our NBA insiders to pick one lesson learned from every team this season. What has, and hasn't, worked out for teams in the first month? How are injuries impacting opportunities? Which teams are falling into rebuild mode already?
Here are the updated rankings for all 30 teams.
Note: Team rankings are based on where members of our panel (ESPN's Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Michael Wright, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, Ohm Youngmisuk, Chris Herring and Kevin Pelton) think teams belong this season.
Previous rankings: Preseason | Oct. 30 | Nov. 5 | Nov. 13 | Nov. 20
Jump to a team:
ATL | BOS | BKN | CHA | CHI | CLE
DAL | DEN | DET | GS | HOU | IND
LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN
NO | NY | OKC | ORL | PHI | PHX
POR | SAC | SA | TOR | UTAH | WAS
2024-25 record: 17-1
Previous ranking: 1
Next games: vs. ATL (Nov. 27), @ ATL (Nov. 29), vs. BOS (Dec. 1), vs. WAS (Dec. 3)
The time for Cleveland is now. With only two players in the rotation aged 30 or older (Caris LeVert and Georges Niang), the franchise incorporating a new coach in Kenny Atkinson and the group coming off two straight playoff appearances, it would have been understandable if Cleveland treated the season like another building block. Instead, a 15-0 start has Donovan Mitchell's preseason declaration to Andscape's Marc Spears sounding prescient: "We're championship contenders when we're healthy." -- Dave McMenamin
2024-25 record: 15-3
Previous ranking: 3
Next games: @ CHI (Nov. 29), @ CLE (Dec. 1), vs. MIA (Dec. 2)
Their 3-point shooting remains unstoppable. Since the start of last season, when the defending champions shoot over 40% from 3-point range -- including Monday's rout of the Clippers -- Boston is a staggering 44-1. But perhaps the more impressive stat is that when Boston shoots under 35% the Celtics are 20-14. With Kristaps Porzingis healthy and back in the fold, Boston's top eight rotation players are all plus 3-point shooters who can also hold their own on defense. No other team in the league can match that two-way versatility. -- Tim Bontemps
2024-25 record: 13-4
Previous ranking: 4
Next games: @ GS (Nov. 27), @ LAL (Nov. 29), @ HOU (Dec. 1), vs. UTAH (Dec. 3)
Size still matters in the NBA. The Thunder learned this lesson even while en route to the West's No. 1 seed and the second round of the playoffs last season, which is why Oklahoma City made recruiting 7-footer Isaiah Hartenstein the top offseason priority. But OKC still had to endure a stretch when Chet Holmgren suffered a serious injury and Hartenstein was still recovering from a broken hand, going 3-3 over the span which started the night Holmgren was hurt. Hartenstein instantly showed his value in his Thunder debut last Wednesday, recording 13 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks in 29 minutes during a win over Portland. -- Tim MacMahon
2024-25 record: 12-5
Previous ranking: 2
Next games: vs. OKC (Nov. 27), @ PHX (Nov. 30), @ DEN (Dec. 3)
No lead is safe. As good as the Warriors have been, they let two wins slip away to the Spurs and Nets in stinging fashion. They blew a 17-point lead in San Antonio in the final 13:55 and looked tired on the second night of a back-to-back. And then they squandered a 19-point lead in the final 19:13 to the Nets. The Warriors lost consecutive games despite leading by 15 or more in each for the first time since April 2000. Making those losses even more painful is the fact that the Warriors' upcoming schedule is extremely difficult. Their next eight games are against Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Denver, Houston, Minnesota and Memphis. -- Ohm Youngmisuk
2024-25 record: 13-6
Previous ranking: 5
Next games: @ PHI (Nov. 27), vs. OKC (Dec. 1), @ SAC (Dec. 3)
Intense execution of simplistic schemes wins. It was only a matter of time until Houston started to exhibit the grit and toughness that defined coach Ime Udoka's playing career. It shows mostly on defense, where Udoka demands his players win their individual matchups. The Rockets rank No. 2 in defensive efficiency behind the Thunder. Credit veterans Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet for establishing Houston's defense-first mentality that's been adopted by younger players such as Tari Eason, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. as the Rockets continue to strive in a scheme dedicated to taking away the 3-pointer. -- Michael Wright
2024-25 record: 9-7
Previous ranking: 6
Next games: @ UTAH (Nov. 27), @ LAC (Dec. 1), vs. GS (Dec. 3)
The Nuggets have to rediscover the hunger they had during their title run. While Denver has the best player in the world in Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets aren't playing like they have a finite window to contend. The Nuggets already got a dose of life without Jokic when he was away from the team for three games, two of which were losses to a depleted New Orleans squad and Memphis. If a 145-118 beatdown at the hands of the Knicks on Monday at home doesn't wake Denver up, a livid Michael Malone probably will. "I need Nikola Jokic," Malone said when asked about needing more vocal leadership outside of Russell Westbrook. "I need Jamal Murray. I need guys who have been here, in that starting lineup, to be vocal. " --Youngmisuk
2024-25 record: 10-7
Previous ranking: 7
Next games: @ SA (Nov. 27), vs. OKC (Nov. 29), @ UTAH (Dec. 1), @ MIN (Dec. 2)
The same problems persist for Los Angeles. After the Lakers were humiliated by the Nuggets in the second half Saturday -- losing for the 13th time in 14 games against the team that eliminated them from the postseason the past two seasons -- Anthony Davis said L.A.'s flaws are common knowledge around the league. "The scouting report on us," Davis said, "run when we miss, run in transition and offensive rebound, crash the glass." L.A. is last in the NBA, allowing 19.3 fast-break points per game and second to last in offensive boards allowed (13.3). But hey, at least they are aware of what to focus on. -- McMenamin
2024-25 record: 11-7
Previous ranking: 11
Next games: @ DET (Nov. 27), vs. NO (Nov. 29), vs. IND (Dec. 1), @ DAL (Dec. 3)
Injuries open opportunities. What a weekend for Scotty Pippen Jr., who dropped a career-best 30 points at his Hall of Fame father's old stomping grounds, shooting a sizzling 13-of-16 with 10 assists against the Bulls. The performance showed just how dangerous Memphis will likely be once it gets back to full health. Ja Morant returned Monday, and interestingly, the Grizzlies had been a little more efficient offensively in the games the two-time All-Star had missed than the ones he played. Morant will look to ease back into a rhythm as the next three games on the current four-game homestand come against teams with records below .500. -- Wright
2024-25 record: 12-7
Previous ranking: 9
Next games: vs. CHI (Nov. 27), @ BKN (Nov. 29), @ BKN (Dec. 1), @ NYK (Dec. 3)
Franz Wagner can handle a go-to role. When Paolo Banchero suffered an oblique strain at the end of October, it was unclear how the Magic would replace his shot creation. Banchero had a team-high 30% usage rate last season and was up to 32% of the team's plays through Orlando's first five games. Wagner has helped fill in the gap by pushing his usage rate from 26% in a secondary role in 2023-24 to 31.5% since Banchero's injury with little decline in his efficiency. Even when Banchero returns, coach Jamahl Mosley may want Wagner to share lead playmaking duties with him. -- Kevin Pelton
10. New York Knicks
2024-25 record: 10-7
Previous ranking: 13
Next games: @ DAL (Nov. 27), @ CHA (Nov. 29), vs. NO (Dec. 1), vs. ORL (Dec. 3)
Extend a thin rotation with rookies. New York, still awaiting season debuts from big men Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa, is a relatively thin, precarious group at the moment with backup guard Deuce McBride having missed five games due to illness and a left knee injury. Coach Tom Thibodeau has had solid health with his starting five, leaning on each member of that group to the tune of 35 minutes per night or more over the past two weeks. With someone like the trusted McBride out, Thibodeau has turned to rookies like Tyler Kolek and Pacome Dadiet -- something he has rarely done in past years -- just to have an eighth or ninth player on a nightly basis this early in the campaign. -- Chris Herring
11. Dallas Mavericks
2024-25 record: 10-8
Previous ranking: 12
Next games: vs. NYK (Nov. 27), @ UTAH (Nov. 30), @ POR (Dec. 1), vs. MEM (Dec. 3)
Clutch statistics tend to have a wide variance. For the second straight season, the Mavs have served as an extreme example of this. It was a great development last season, when Dallas was a dominant closing team, ranking second in the league in clutch winning percentage (23-9, .719) and first in clutch offensive rating (127.1). That was in stark contrast to the Mavs' clutch struggles in 2022-23 following the trade for Kyrie Irving, when Dallas lost 15 of 21 clutch games while limping into the lottery. The Mavs have reverted to that form early this season with a 3-7 clutch record. Dallas is 5-of-15 from the floor in the final minute with a one-possession margin. In contrast, the Mavs shot a league-best 55.2% in those situations last season. -- MacMahon
12. LA Clippers
2024-25 record: 11-8
Previous ranking: 15
Next games: @ WAS (Nov. 27), @ MIN (Nov. 29), vs. DEN (Dec. 1), vs. POR (Dec. 3)
Jeff Van Gundy's defense is life. Despite a blowout loss in Boston, the Clippers are off to a much better start than expected largely due to their defense. When Jeff Van Gundy's defense is at its best, the Clippers are a problem. During their recent five-game winning streak, they held Golden State, Orlando, Sacramento and Philadelphia each under 100 points. They've beaten the Warriors twice, won at Denver and are sixth in the West. Not to mention they're doing this without Kawhi Leonard. Until Leonard can return, the Clippers' recipe for success is their scrappy and stingy defense. -- Youngmisuk
13. Phoenix Suns
2024-25 record: 10-7
Previous ranking: 8
Next games: vs. BKN (Nov. 27), vs. GS (Nov. 30), vs. SA (Dec. 3)
Kevin Durant is still at the top of his game. With Durant in the lineup this season, the Suns are 9-1. Without him, heading into Tuesday against the Lakers, they were 1-6. Coming off a gold medal summer with Team USA, the 36-year-old scorer's game has continued to shine, putting up MVP numbers (27.6 points on 55%/43%/84% splits with 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists) more than a decade after he last won the award with the Thunder. -- McMenamin
2024-25 record: 8-9
Previous ranking: 10
Next games: vs. SAC (Nov. 27), vs. LAC (Nov. 29), vs. LAL (Dec. 2)
Chemistry takes time. Although the Wolves insisted their roster shake-up on the eve of training camp -- exchanging Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo -- would add strength and depth, it has been clear this season that the team will take time to adjust to its new makeup. Randle has had some bright individual performances, but the Wolves have not brought the same intensity on defense they were known for last season. There's plenty of time to capture it, but the Wolves' growing pains out of the gate are apparent. -- Jamal Collier
2024-25 record: 10-8
Previous ranking: 17
Next games: vs. LAL (Nov. 27), @ SAC (Dec. 1), @ PHX (Dec. 3)
Following the vets is the way to go. Last season, San Antonio didn't tally its first three-game winning streak until late March. The Spurs are currently riding a four-game run after defeating the Jazz on Tuesday. Credit veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes for teaching the young Spurs consistent execution when the stakes are highest. San Antonio is a top-10 team in clutch time in terms of win percentage (57.1%) after finishing last season 13-28 in clutch games. Victor Wembanyama is back after a three-game absence while Devin Vassell appears closer to a return. -- Wright
16. Milwaukee Bucks
2024-25 record: 9-9
Previous ranking: 21
Next games: vs. WAS (Nov. 30), @ DET (Dec. 3)
Don't overreact. After a disastrous start to the season, the Bucks have started to right the ship a bit. They've won six of their past seven games entering Tuesday to climb back into the No. 6 slot in the Eastern Conference, right back in the mix for a playoff spot despite a 2-8 start. Since the beginning of November, the Bucks rank in the top 10 in defensive efficiency, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing like an MVP averaging a career-high 32.4 points while shooting 61% from the field. Their win streak came during a soft spot in the schedule, so let's see if they can do it against tougher competition before declaring them all the way back. -- Collier
17. Miami Heat
2024-25 record: 7-8
Previous ranking: 18
Next games: @ CHA (Nov. 27), vs. TOR (Nov. 29), @ TOR (Dec. 1), @ BOS (Dec. 2)
The starting lineup needs to change. Miami entered this season wanting to see what the group of Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo looked like. The result? That group, across eight games this season entering Tuesday night's action, has been outscored by 10.6 points per 100 possessions. As a result, Rozier came off the bench after returning from injury Tuesday against Milwaukee and Butler remains in a more ball-dominant role -- a likely trend moving forward. -- Bontemps
18. Sacramento Kings
2024-25 record: 8-10
Previous ranking: 14
Next games: @ MIN (Nov. 27), @ POR (Nov. 29), vs. SA (Dec. 1), vs. HOU (Dec. 3)
It's tough to build an elite offense without 3-pointers. Having added midrange maestro DeMar DeRozan to the duo of De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings have dominated inside the arc. Only the Cavaliers have shot better on 2-point attempts than Sacramento's 58%. Yet the Kings rank just 12th in effective field goal percentage because they're near the bottom of the NBA in 3-point attempts (24th) and percentage (26th). Sacramento can hope for better shooting by slumping Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray, all below 30% from 3. Without it, the Kings may not have enough scoring efficiency to threaten for a top-six spot. -- Pelton
19. Detroit Pistons
2024-25 record: 8-11
Previous ranking: 19
Next games: @ MEM (Nov. 27), @ IND (Nov. 29), vs. PHI (Nov. 30), vs. MIL (Dec. 3)
Defense is the easiest way to improve. Much of the focus on the Pistons has been on the shooting they added with veteran newcomers Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Tobias Harris. Although Detroit's offensive rating has improved from 27th to 21st, the bigger gains have been on defense -- not exactly the strong suit of the additions. Much like Ime Udoka with last season's Rockets, new Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff has brought a defensive culture that has helped the Pistons jump from 25th in defensive rating to 12th, putting Detroit in contention for a play-in spot. -- Pelton
20. Indiana Pacers
2024-25 record: 8-10
Previous ranking: 16
Next games: vs. POR (Nov. 27), vs. DET (Nov. 29), @ MEM (Dec. 1), @ TOR (Dec. 3)
Every season is different. The Pacers blitzed the league at the start of last season with a high-engine offense and an All-Star point guard capable of driving the teams toward wins. But despite a run to the Eastern Conference finals last season, nothing has come as easy for Indiana this season. Their offense has fallen from near the top of the league last season to 18th so far this year. Tyrese Haliburton has struggled and injuries have decimated Indiana's depth. It's a completely different start compared to how fast the Pacers began last year. -- Collier
21. Brooklyn Nets
2024-25 record: 8-10
Previous ranking: 24
Next games: @ PHX (Nov. 27), vs. ORL (Nov. 29), vs. ORL (Dec. 1), @ CHI (Den. 2)
Ben Simmons is regressing. Following a loose-ball situation, Simmons found himself all alone -- wide-open -- under the basket Friday with an opportunity to either dunk or drop in an easy layup. But upon catching the pass from Jalen Wilson, Simmons rushed the attempt, failing to even hit the rim. The play happened in Philly, of all places, where Simmons had a similar split-second flub as a Sixer during a 2021 playoff game. It was a reminder of a hard truth: Even as Simmons leads the Nets with 6.6 assists per game, his apparent confidence issues have made him a shell of his former franchise player self-due to his reluctance to shoot. In an all-important contract year, Simmons is averaging just 4.8 shots, which qualifies as a career low for the 28-year-old, regardless of whether you count those attempts on a per-game, per-minute or per-100 possession basis. -- Herring
22. Atlanta Hawks
2024-25 record: 7-11
Previous ranking: 20
Next games: @ CLE (Nov. 27), vs. CLE (Nov. 29), @ CHA (Nov. 30), vs. NO (Dec. 2)
Turnovers can cancel out improvements. Atlanta has improved on the defensive end this season -- 22nd in efficiency, up from 27th last season. But what's continued to hold back the Hawks defensively is their turnovers, and how efficiently opponents score off of them. Atlanta, which coughs the ball up at an above-average clip, is surrendering 1.42 points per possession following their live-ball turnovers, per Inpredictable, the NBA's second-worst rate. The problem was on full display last Wednesday, when the Hawks lost after conceding 22 points to Golden State following turnovers. -- Herring
23. Chicago Bulls
2024-25 record: 8-11
Previous ranking: 25
Next games: @ ORL (Nov. 27), vs. BOS (Nov. 29), vs. BKN (Dec. 2)
It's better to be early than late with your rebuild. The first few weeks of the Bulls season has outlined how this team should navigate the ups and downs of this rebuild. They are still trying to find the right role for guard Josh Giddey, one of the key building blocks in their revamp -- they are currently being outscored with him on the court. Defensively, they are challenged when slowing any team down. Offensively, the Bulls are still relying on veterans Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine, both of whom are having bounce-back seasons, but want to get more from their young core. The Bulls rebuild may have come a little too late and has left them with a middling season to try and make sense of. -- Collier
2024-25 record: 6-11
Previous ranking: 22
Next games: vs. MIA (Nov. 27), vs. NYK (Nov. 29), vs. ATL (Nov. 30), vs. PHI (Dec. 3)
Frontcourt depth will now be crucial. Between the injuries to big men Mark Williams and Nick Richards -- and most recently to forward Grant Williams, who this past weekend was lost for the season to a torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee -- the Hornets have learned that they're either going to tap into their depth, or find some to stay afloat. Taj Gibson, 39, has been a part of the rotation in recent weeks, and now coach Charles Lee will have to figure out who takes the spot of Williams, a versatile forward who was limiting opposing players to just a 29.2% field goal percentage on isolation plays, the third-best mark in the NBA among stoppers who had faced 20 or more isos so far. -- Herring
2024-25 record: 7-11
Previous ranking: 23
Next games: @ IND (Nov. 27), vs. SAC (Nov. 29), vs. DAL (Dec. 1), @ LAC (Dec. 3)
Don't overreact to recent results. Blazers fans can't be blamed for feeling whiplash during the month of November. Portland has alternated highs and lows, seemingly at random. Blazers coach Chauncey Billups called out his team's effort after a 45-point home loss to Memphis and Portland responded with a season-high three-game winning streak. Those good vibes dissipated with a 28-point loss at Houston on Friday, which the Blazers followed by beating the Rockets on the back end of a back-to-back. They couldn't carry that over in a 25-point loss at Memphis on Monday. Portland's five losses by 25 or more currently lead the NBA. -- Pelton
2024-25 record: 4-14
Previous ranking: 27
Next games: vs. TOR (Nov. 27), @ MEM (Nov. 29), @ NYK (Dec. 1), @ ATL (Dec. 2)
The 2024-25 season might already be over. Injuries tell the tale and the latest news on star Zion Williamson isn't promising with ESPN's Shams Charania reporting he's not close to a return. The team received positive news recently about a pending return for Dejounte Murray, while Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy III have recently come back. Still, Williamson, Jose Alvarado (hamstring) and Herb Jones (shoulder) remain out due to injuries. Once everybody is healthy again, New Orleans will have a tough time fighting its way back into contention in a stacked West given how much ground it has lost already. Maybe it's time to rethink the long-term plan for Williamson. -- Wright
2024-25 record: 3-13
Previous ranking: 26
Next games: vs. HOU (Nov. 27), @ DET (Nov. 30), @ CHA (Dec. 3)
Age and injury concerns were valid. The 76ers entered the season with questions surrounding their ability to make it through the season healthy. Then, they proceeded to not even get to the regular season healthy. Now, more than a month in, Philadelphia has played a grand total of six minutes with its big three of Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Joel Embiid on the court together -- and, not surprisingly, sit at the bottom of the NBA standings, with no sign of things improving anytime soon. -- Bontemps
28. Toronto Raptors
2024-25 record: 4-14
Previous ranking: 29
Next games: @ NO (Nov. 27), @ MIA (Nov. 29), vs. MIA (Dec. 1), vs. IND (Dec. 3)
The youth movement is fully underway. The Raptors currently have five players averaging more than 30 minutes per game, with only one of them -- Jakob Poeltl -- north of 25 years old. The roster has fully been flipped from the 2019 title-winning squad and has instead been turned over to Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick and RJ Barrett. As a result, Toronto is not competing for a playoff spot, but for ping-pong balls in the lottery -- and the chance to add another young difference-maker. -- Bontemps
29. Utah Jazz
2024-25 record: 4-13
Previous ranking: 28
Next games: vs. DEN (Nov. 27), vs. DAL (Nov. 30), vs. LAL (Dec. 1), @ OKC (Dec. 3)
The early stages of a full rebuild are here. Unlike the past two seasons, when they were competitive until unloading veterans at the trade deadline, coach Will Hardy will have to deliver a lot of lessons this season. One is that minutes must be earned, even for a franchise likely (and hopefully) headed for a high lottery pick. Rookie Cody Williams, the No. 10 pick, has struggled with this -- he returned to the bench after seven games as a starter and has played single-digit minutes in two of the past three games. -- MacMahon
2024-25 record: 2-14
Previous ranking: 30
Next games: vs. LAC (Nov. 27), @ MIL (Nov. 30), @ CLE (Dec. 3)
It's going to be another long season. Everyone knew this would be a rebuilding season in D.C. But when the Wizards beat the Hawks in consecutive games and were 2-2 to start the season, Washington looked like it could at least be competitive. Washington has lost 12 straight following those Atlanta wins, 11 of the losses coming by 10 or more points. At least building blocks like Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr show flashes of improvement and continue to get plenty of minutes and experience. -- Youngmisuk
2024 NBA Cup: Live updates, highlights, more
Which teams are close to advancing to the NBA Cup quarterfinals? Tuesday's slate of games gave clarity to a few teams on their odds of making the knockout round.
The Houston Rockets (3-0) will move on as West Group A winners after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in an 117-110 overtime thriller. The Rockets are the second team to book their spot for the quarterfinals after the Golden State Warriors won West Group C last week.
In West Group B, the Phoenix Suns dominated the Los Angeles Lakers 127-100 in a blowout win that could have potential implications since point differential in NBA Cup games serves as the first tiebreaker (after head-to-head record in group play). In the group's other game, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Utah Jazz to set up a pivotal clash with the Suns next week.
Earlier Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks held off the Miami Heat 106-103 to remain undefeated in East Group B. Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards were officially eliminated from the tournament after losing to the Chicago Bulls 127-108 in an East Group C game.
Here's what's at stake in each of the six groups, as well as where each of them stand overall:
East Group A
There were no games Tuesday but there are two clear leaders, with the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks tied atop the group at 2-0.
The group picks back up Friday when Orlando visits the Brooklyn Nets and New York visits the Charlotte Hornets. The group's other team, the Philadelphia 76ers, have slim hopes of advancing.
The group winner will be decided next week, when Orlando visits New York, with the loser needing a wild-card spot.
East Group B
With the Milwaukee Bucks' win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday, the group winner will be decided when the Bucks visit the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 3.
The Toronto Raptors are officially eliminated and the Indiana Pacers have a slim shot at advancing.
East Group C
The Chicago Bulls eliminated the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, but there won't be much clarity until Friday's games, when the Boston Celtics are in Chicago and the Atlanta Hawks host the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Chicago's win on Tuesday means the Bulls, Cavs and Hawks could potentially win the group, depending on how those two Friday games shake out.
West Group A
The Houston Rockets are through as group winners after the overtime win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The LA Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers -- both of which were off Tuesday night -- are still in the mix, while the Sacramento Kings are probably out.
West Group B
The Los Angeles Lakers put themselves in a precarious position after losing big against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. The Lakers are now 2-1 in the group, with one game left against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
The San Antonio Spurs beat the Utah Jazz (who are now eliminated), which gives them a chance to advance if they can follow it up with another win against Phoenix next week.
West Group C
Golden State already has clinched Group C, and the New Orleans Pelicans have been eliminated. With a plus-41 point differential, the Dallas Mavericks have a strong chance of advancing as the West wild card if they can win their final group game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 3. The Denver Nuggets, who host the Warriors on Dec. 3, have a slim chance of advancing.
Jump to a section:
Takeaways | Schedule | FAQ
TAKEAWAYS FROM TUESDAY'S GAMES
Suns wallop Lakers to create wide-open race
With Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant back in the lineup, the Phoenix Suns looked like championship contenders in a 127-100 blowout of the reeling Los Angeles Lakers, outscoring the Lakers 36-18 in the third quarter and never looking back. Phoenix's Big Three of Beal, Durant and Devin Booker combined for 72 points on 29-of-49 shooting.
The Suns moved into a three-way tie with the Lakers -- who suffered their first loss in two seasons of NBA Cup play after winning the inaugural tournament -- and San Antonio Spurs (winners over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday) atop Group B. With the Oklahoma City Thunder also in the mix, this is the most wide-open group with four of the five teams having one loss. -- Kevin Pelton
Rockets' win over Wolves helps out Mavs
The Houston Rockets clinched the West Group A title by withstanding a Minnesota Timberwolves' rally and rolling in overtime to pull out a 117-111 road win.
Houston center Alperen Sengun's fingerprints were all over the victory. He recorded his seventh career triple-double -- and third this season -- with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
He also had quite a memorable celebration after hitting a spinning jump hook over four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert with 54 seconds left. Sengun strutted toward midcourt and threw down an emphatic "too small" gesture.
It was the Wolves' second loss in NBA cup action, meaning Minnesota's chances of advancing are slim to none. More importantly, it was the Timberwolves' sixth loss in their past eight games. -- Tim MacMahon
The other winner of the Rockets winning Group A is the Dallas Mavericks. With the Golden State Warriors moving on as Group C winners, the second-place Mavs are now in pole position for the West's wild-card spot as long as they can beat Memphis at home on Dec. 3 in their final group game.
Dallas has a plus-41 differential thanks to its blowout win over the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans, and Houston was the only other West team better than plus-12 coming into Tuesday's games. -- Pelton
Bucks stay hot behind Dame as Giannis sits
No Giannis Antetokounmpo? No problem for the Milwaukee Bucks who took another step toward returning to the knockout round of the NBA Cup.
The Miami Heat made them work for it, coming all the way back from 22 points down to tie the score in Tuesday's East Group B game in the fourth quarter, but the Bucks escaped with a 106-103 victory.
Milwaukee extended its winning streak to five games and has won seven of its past eight games to improve to 9-9, despite starting the season 2-8. With Antetokounmpo sitting out because of a pregame knee issue, the Bucks won their first game of the season without their star forward thanks to 37 points and 12 assists from fellow All-Star Damian Lillard.
With the victory, the Bucks have put themselves in a strong position to advance in NBA Cup East Group B. The Bucks (3-0) and Detroit Pistons (2-0) remain unbeaten in the group heading into their showdown Dec. 3 in Detroit. The loser could potentially still be in the mix for the East's wild-card spot, but that would depend on results in other games. -- Jamal Collier
2024 Emirates NBA Cup schedule
All times ET
Nov. 29
Knicks at Hornets, noon (NBA TV)
Cavaliers at Hawks, 2:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
Pelicans at Grizzlies, 5 p.m. (NBA TV)
Clippers at Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Magic at Nets, 7:30 p.m.
Pistons at Pacers, 8 p.m.
Raptors at Heat, 8 p.m.
Celtics at Bulls, 8 p.m.
Thunder at Lakers, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Kings at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m.
Dec. 3
76ers at Magic, 7 p.m.
Wizards at Cavaliers, 7 p.m.
Bucks at Pistons, 7 p.m.
Magic at Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Pacers at Raptors, 7:30 p.m.
Jazz at Thunder, 8 p.m.
Grizzlies at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
Spurs at Suns, 9 p.m.
Warriors at Nuggets, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Rockets at Kings, 10 p.m.
Trail Blazers at Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 and 11
Quarterfinals
Dec. 14
Semifinals 1, 4:30 p.m. (TNT)
Semifinals 2, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Dec. 17
Championship, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)
Previous results
Nov. 12
Hawks 117, Celtics 116
Magic 114, Hornets 89
Pistons 123, Heat 121 (OT)
Knicks 111, 76ers 99
Bucks 99, Raptors 85
Suns 120, Jazz 112
Trail Blazers 122, Timberwolves 108
Warriors 120, Mavericks 117
Nov. 15
Heat 124, Pacers 111
Magic 98, 76ers 86
Pistons 99, Raptors 95
Lakers 120, Spurs 115
Hawks 129, Wizards 117
Cavaliers 144, Bulls 126
Pelicans 101, Nuggets 94
Knicks 124, Nets 122
Rockets 125, Clippers 104
Thunder 99, Suns 83
Timberwolves 130, Kings 126 (OT)
Warriors 123, Grizzlies 118
Nov. 19
Celtics 120, Cavaliers 117
Nets 116, Hornets 115
Nuggets 122, Grizzlies 110
Mavericks 132, Pelicans 91
Spurs 110, Thunder 110
Lakers 124, Jazz 118
Nov. 22
76ers 113, Nets 98
Celtics 108, Wizards 96
Warriors 112, Pelicans 108
Bucks 129, Pacers 117
Bulls 136, Hawks 122
Rockets 116, Trail Blazers 88
Mavericks 123, Nuggets 120
Clippers 108, Kings 88
Nov. 26
Bulls 127, Wizards 108
Bucks 106, Heat 103
Rockets 117, Timberwolves 111 (OT)
Spurs 128, Jazz 115
Suns 127, Lakers 100
FAQ (by Tim Bontemps)
The NBA unveiled the six groups for the second edition of its in-season tournament -- now called the Emirates NBA Cup. Here's a look at everything you'll need to know about the return of the competition.
What is the format?
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has had a long-standing fascination with European soccer. The idea for having an in-season cup competition within the NBA schedule comes from soccer leagues having both a regular-season title, won by the team with the most points over the full year, and a separate tournament (or, in some leagues, multiple tournaments) that runs concurrently with the league season.
In England, for example, there are the various divisions -- led by the Premier League -- and also the FA Cup competition. But unlike those European leagues, which play their cup competitions outside of their league schedules, the NBA Cup is built into the regular-season slate.
The 30 NBA teams were split into six five-team groups -- three featuring Eastern Conference teams, and three comprising teams from the West -- with each team then playing one game against the other four in their group. The winner of each group, plus the team with the best record among the nongroup winners, will then advance to the knockout rounds.
How will this impact the regular-season schedule and standings?
Typically, the NBA sends out a full 82-game schedule in mid-August. Now, though, the league sends out only 80 games and leaves a gap for roughly a week to fill in later, depending on how the group stage of the NBA Cup plays out.
The teams that reach the NBA Cup's finale will actually play 83 games -- though the championship game won't count toward the standings or any statistical markers. Those that lose in the semifinals will have played their full 82-game schedule and won't need anything added.
The two teams from both the East and West that lose in the quarterfinals will play their 82nd game against one another on one of four dates: Dec. 12, 13, 15 or 16. Meanwhile, the 22 teams that fail to qualify for the knockout rounds will have their final two games scheduled -- one at home and one on the road -- on Dec. 12 or 13 and 15 or 16 against others eliminated in the group stage.
Why does the NBA Cup include regular-season games?
Before its launch, one of the main questions surrounding the in-season tournament was why any team would be incentivized to compete in it. By making every game part of the season -- and, being in-conference, potentially important from a playoff-tiebreaker standpoint -- the NBA ensured teams will be motivated.
If this had been set up like the cup tournaments in European soccer, there would have been nothing stopping NBA teams from opting out, literally or figuratively -- sitting their top players for extra rest.
What teams make up the groups?
To create the groups, the NBA put all 15 teams in each conference into five pots, separated by their finish in last season's standings. Pot 1 included the teams that finished 1-3 in regular-season record, teams 4-6 went into Pot 2, teams 7-9 into Pot 3, teams 10-12 into Pot 4 and teams 13-15 into Pot 5.
As a result, the following groups were drawn:
East A: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets
East B: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons
East C: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
West A: Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
West B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs
West C: Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies
Does one group stand out the most from the others?
Yes, there is an obvious one: West Group C, featuring the Nuggets, Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors and Grizzlies.
Because of how the draw is performed, Golden State and Memphis, which dealt with a combination of suspensions and injuries, are significantly stronger than you would anticipate teams in the bottom two pots to be.
But in addition to featuring the reigning MVP in Nikola Jokic and Zion Williamson, the group also could offer the first meeting between Klay Thompson and his former team after the guard signed with Dallas following 13 seasons with Golden State.
What do players get for winning?
Last year, the players on the winning team received $500,000 each, while those on the runners-up got $200,000. The losing players of the semifinals each got $100,000, and those ousted in the quarterfinals each got $50,000.
This year, the prizes will be slightly higher because of negotiated raises year over year to keep pace with increases in the salary cap and basketball related income as part of the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association.
Will anyone earn individual honors for their play in NBA Cup games?
There will be an MVP award, as well as an all-tournament team.
Will this have any impact on the playoffs?
Not beyond the games counting in the regular-season standings (and toward tiebreakers). Though there was debate among league insiders about guaranteeing a playoff berth for winning the tournament, ultimately that idea (or any other to further incentivize teams) was not enacted.
The debate continued after last year's in-season tournament winner, the Lakers, wound up in the play-in tournament, while the runner-up, the Pacers, narrowly avoided landing in it. But, in the end, the only playoff impact comes from the wins and losses accrued throughout the tournament.
Why is it called the Emirates NBA Cup?
The league struck a sponsorship deal with Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, to sponsor the tournament after its initial run. The NBA said last year that it went with the most basic titles for both the tournament and its trophy -- the "in-season tournament" and "NBA Cup" -- as a way to introduce the concept to fans.
However, using such nondescript names had another clear advantage: It gave the league a blank slate in case the tournament and cup became properties it ended up selling to a sponsor, and avoided the complications that could arise by naming them after someone (for example, the late NBA commissioner David Stern, one possibility that had been floated before the tournament was officially unveiled).
NBA draft 2025: Top 10 international players you need to know
With international leagues temporarily paused as national teams compete in FIBA qualifying windows, now is a perfect moment to take stock of what we've learned so far in the important realm of noncollegiate draft prospects ahead of the 2025 NBA draft.
As teams scour Europe, Australia, South America, Africa and Asia for NBA quality talent, the consistent feedback has been that this is not only a stacked 2025 draft class with U.S.-based players (especially a loaded freshman class), but there are also at least 10 international players aiming to be first-round picks, with another dozen or so vying for second-round consideration.
It's important to note the 2026 draft seems to be tracking as one of the weakest we've seen from an international standpoint in years, which could result in some players eligible for the 2025 draft putting their NBA dreams on hold for a year.
With that context in mind, here's who we consider the 10 best prospects in the international class, including one American who is competing in Mexico City via the G League:
Jump to a player:
Traore | Gonzalez | Saraf | Essengue | Ruzic
Beringer | Zikarsky | Pate | Grunloh | De Larrea
Honorable mentions
1. Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin (Pro A/BCL), France
Age: 18.4 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 184
Projected draft range: 4-10
Traore has taken his lumps through a brutal early-season schedule, with spectacular play mixed in with difficult moments. He has struggled with scoring efficiency, turnovers, porous defense and playing with the physicality of elite-level European competition.
He's shooting just 42% on 2-pointers and 30% for 3s with an 18% turnover percentage, contributing to a poor 99.6 offensive rating, well below what NBA scouts would hope from an elite prospect. The level of competition he's facing as an 18-year-old point guard explains some of these struggles, but his minus-11.6 net rating is going to raise some eyebrows if that figure doesn't improve as the season moves on.
Nevertheless, Traore's talent has been on display with his ability to get to spots on the floor with outstanding ballhandling, playmaking creativity, and difficult shotmaking prowess, giving him a high ceiling for his height. He is being held accountable by a demanding coaching staff for blown defensive assignments and casual play that at times characterizes him.
Looking forward, Traore's Saint-Quentin team (6-3) looks poised for a postseason run in France and a play-in berth in the next round of the FIBA Champions League, a three-game series in January. Having a chance to catch his breath, get some much-needed practice time and revert back to an easier one-game-per-week schedule will surely benefit him over the second half of the season. Then, scouts are hoping to see him ramp up his intensity, make strides with his frame and find more consistency on both ends of the floor.
Traore's combination of size, speed, court vision, scoring instincts and youth gives him considerable upside to grow into over time, as he's posting a top-10 assist percentage in both Pro A and the BCL while knocking down 14 pull-up 3s in 13 games thus far. Every lottery team in need of a point guard to build around will be studying him all season.
2. Hugo Gonzalez, SG/SF, Real Madrid (ACB/EuroLeague), Spain
Age: 18.8 | Height: 6-7 | Weight: 190
Projected draft range: 8-20
Gonzalez is in perhaps the least favorable situation of any international prospect as far as having a NBA platform at his disposal. He's competing for minutes on a stacked Real Madrid team solely focused on winning the Spanish ACB Championship and returning to the EuroLeague Final Four, where they've been each of the past three seasons.
He's averaging just 7 minutes per game, and will be held accountable with any questionable decision or defensive mishap resulting in a one-way ticket to the bench; strong play won't always result in additional opportunities, either.
Nevertheless, NBA teams have studied Gonzalez since his impressive duel with the then 15-year-old Cooper Flagg in the championship game of the FIBA U17 World Cup in the summer of 2022. A 16-year-old Gonzalez showed zero fear attacking the Americans off the dribble while playing a highly intelligent but physical, energetic and intense style that screamed NBA lottery pick.
Gonzalez has continued to grow in stature, frame explosiveness and ability with his shotmaking prowess, defensive versatility and playmaking ability on both ends of the floor, standing out in many club and national team events over the past three years. He has room for improvement with his perimeter shooting in particular, as he has converted 3-for-17 of his 3-pointers this season, making it difficult for him to play the 3-and-D role that's expected of him at the highest level of European basketball, where perfection is demanded on every possession.
We'll see how his role evolves, but being surpassed by better-performing college and international players as the season moves on could be in the cards. It will be difficult for NBA decision-makers to get eyes on him in the predraft process as Real Madrid's season likely will extend deep into June.
3. Ben Saraf, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm (BBL/EuroCup), Israel
Age: 18.6 | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 202
Projected draft range: 8-20
Saraf is starting at point guard for Ratiopharm Ulm, currently in first place in Germany's Basketball Bundesliga and 4-4 in the EuroCup. He had an outstanding showing as the MVP of the FIBA U18 EuroBasket this summer, which catapulted him into NBA conversations.
Saraf brings an elite combination of scoring instincts, feel for the game, aggressiveness and playmaking creativity, authoring outstanding performances already across different competitions. He's an unorthodox prospect who is left-hand dominant, shoots with unconventional mechanics and is relentless to make plays happen, helping him post gaudy scoring and assist totals, while also turning the ball over at a high rate.
Saraf won't be every NBA scout's cup of tea due to question marks around his perimeter shooting consistency (35% from 3 through 15 games), finishing prowess, defense and physical tools. Some evaluators wonder whether he is a good enough shot creator to shoulder primary ballhandling responsibility for a NBA team or space the floor adequately and hold his own defensively.
Luckily for Saraf -- and NBA talent evaluators -- a large volume of games are yet to come in both the EuroCup and German BBL which will shed significant insight into his long-term projection. Regardless of how he fares, there's little doubt Saraf has improved his standing and captivated the attention of onlookers on both sides of the ocean with his unique style of play.
4. Noa Essengue, PF, Ratiopharm Ulm (BBL/EuroCup), France
Age: 17.9 | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 198
Projected draft range: 10-25
Saraf's teammate, Essengue, has been highly productive as a 17-year-old in the EuroCup while authoring a strong 20-point, 8-rebound, 3-assist performance in a preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers in mid-October.
Essengue has had no shortage of highlights, showcasing his mobility and explosiveness as well as his ability to draw fouls in bunches, and as a passer, cutter and defensive playmaker with notable improvement as a shooter.
With most of his best performances coming in the lower-level intensity EuroCup competition, scouts will want to see if his shooting improvement is real and how much growth he can make with his decision-making and intensity matching up with older, stronger players on the interior.
Essengue has a huge platform to show off his talent and should make strides as he doesn't turn 18 until Dec. 18, making him the second-youngest prospect in this class after Flagg.
5. Michael Ruzic, PF, Joventut Badalona (ACB/EuroCup), Croatia
Age: 18.1 | Height: 6-10 | Weight: 223
Projected draft range: 20-35
Ruzic emerged almost out of nowhere last season, wowing scouts as a 17-year-old starter in the best domestic league in the world outside the NBA, hitting 39% of his 3-pointers and showcasing an exceptional feel for the game.
This season got off to a much rockier start; his shots weren't falling with as much consistency, and then he suffered a serious thumb ligament injury in October, which will likely shut him down for three to four months.
That time away might put Ruzic in a difficult situation depending on when he returns, as NBA decision-makers haven't had as much opportunity to study him.
Every NBA team is looking for 6-10 power forwards who can stretch the floor, pass, handle and cut, and bring strong instincts defensively. Ruzic, as the fourth-youngest prospect in ESPN's Top 100 at 18 years old, offers considerable room for growth physically, and is already on a late-blooming trajectory. The second half of the season will be crucial, as well as how quickly he can arrive for the predraft process in the U.S. to give teams an up-close look at how he projects in the long term.
6. Joan Beringer, C, Cedevita Olimpija (ABA/EuroCup), France
Age: 18.0 | Height: 6-11 | Weight: 231
Projected draft range: 20-35
Beringer is carving out an increasingly important role in the Adriatic League and EuroCup for Cedevita, seeing 27 minutes per game over his past three contests going into the FIBA break, while dropping glimpses of upside that are raising NBA eyebrows.
The third-youngest prospect in ESPN's Top 100 turned 18 on Nov. 11 and has been playing basketball seriously for only around three years, giving him considerable room to grow.
No other big man in this class offers this type of fluidity and mobility as a rim-runner and pick-and-roll finisher, with the ability to cover ground and get off his feet for blocks and dunks. He also plays exceptionally hard.
He's thin, raw, inexperienced and somewhat mistake-prone on both ends of the floor, but is starting to figure things out over the past few weeks. It appears he'll have a great platform to showcase himself the rest of the season in Slovenia, potentially providing him a runway to solidify himself as a first-round caliber prospect if he continues to make strides.
7. Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane (NBL), Australia
Age: 18.3 | Height: 7-3 | Weight: 227
Projected draft range: 20-40
Zikarsky came into the season with considerable fanfare after his play helped Australia win gold at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany last spring, where he won MVP honors by posting 18.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in 26 minutes per game.
The 18-year-old hasn't looked nearly as impactful for Brisbane in his second season in the Australian NBL, struggling to make an impact offensively, being a significant liability guarding pick-and-roll, and not offering much rim protection (his block percentage has fallen from 12.8% last season to 3.4%). The game often appears to be moving too fast for Zikarsky, who has had disappointing moments missing good looks around the basket, standing and watching rebounds carom off the rim and allowing smaller players to push him around with a distinct lack of physicality, along with some real aircraft-carrier moments stepping outside of the paint defensively.
Brisbane has 19 games to get to playoff contention before the regular season ends in February, allowing Zikarsky an extended predraft process where he will get the opportunity to showcase his skills in a better light.
8. Dink Pate, SG, Mexico City Capitanes (G League), USA
Age: 18.3 | Height: 6-8 | Weight: 210
Stats: 6-8, SG
Projected draft range: 25-45
Pate is different from most players on this list, as he was born in Dallas and started his pro career with G League Ignite (which was dissolved last season), causing him to transfer to Mexico City this summer, a team with different goals based on what we've seen thus far.
He's coming off the bench averaging 16 minutes through seven games, largely struggling until breaking out last week in the final game of a six-game, 10-day road stretch, posting 18 points in 24 minutes in a loss to Austin.
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