Emirates NBA Cup: 12 must-see matchups to watch during Group Play
Emirates NBA Cup Explained
ESPN's Richard Jefferson explains the Emirates NBA Cup and shares what you need to know for this year.
With the Emirates NBA Cup Group Play schedule released today, we have 60 matchups set for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Here are 12 matchups to circle on your calendars – two games from each of the six groups – including some playoff rematches, NBA Cup rematches and All-Stars facing former teams.
East Group A: Knicks, Magic, 76ers, Nets, Hornets
Knicks vs. Sixers
Tuesday, Nov. 12 (7:30 ET, TNT)
These teams staged an instant classic first-round matchup in the 2024 Playoffs – with the Knicks having a larger margin in wins (4-2) than they did total points (650-649). Jalen Brunson averaged 41.8 points over the final four games, Joel Embiid dropped a 50-piece on a bad knee and Tyrese Maxey scored seven points in 25 seconds to force OT and eventually a Game 6, temporarily extending Philly’s season.
The only thing this series didn’t give fans was a Game 7. And now we get a new chapter to add with an Emirates NBA Cup matchup.
Nets vs. Magic
Friday, Nov. 29 (7:30 ET, NBA League Pass)
Orlando’s Wagner brothers – Franz and Moritz – teamed up with Brooklyn’s Dennis Schroder the past two summers to represent the German National Team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup (where Germany won) and the 2024 Paris Olympics (finished fourth). Now, they face off in tournament action during the Emirates NBA Cup.
East Group B: Bucks, Pacers, Heat, Raptors, Pistons
Bucks vs. Pacers
Friday, Nov. 22 (7:30 ET, ESPN)
This matchup gave us 11 meetings last year between the regular season (4-1 Pacers, including the NBA Cup semifinals) and playoffs (4-2 Pacers in the first round to end the Bucks’ season). During those 11 games, Giannis Antetokounmpo posted two of the last season’s top eight scoring performances (54 points and a career-best 64 points), the rosters sniped over who took home a game ball and Tyrese Haliburton mimicked Damian Lillard’s signature “Dame Time” celebration after a clutch bucket to seal Indy’s win in the NBA Cup semifinal.
Heat vs. Pistons
Tuesday, Nov. 12 (7 ET, NBA League Pass)
During Team USA’s run to a fifth-straight gold medal, Miami’s Bam Adebayo showed off his range by knocking down three 3-pointers over the six-game run. After making only eight triples in his first six NBA seasons combined, Bam knocked down 15 last season, including a buzzer-beater against the Pistons – a 30-footer from the top of the arc. His career mark currently sits at 22.1%; does Bam have more 3s to unleash this season and in this Group Play matchup?
East Group C: Celtics, Cavaliers, Bulls, Hawks, Wizards
Celtics vs. Cavaliers
Tuesday, Nov. 19 (7 ET, TNT)
Boston’s run to championship No. 18 including an Eastern Conference semifinals matchup with Cleveland. It was the first time the two teams had met in the playoffs since 2018, the final season of LeBron’s second run in Cleveland. After the Cavs ended the Celtics’ season in 2015, 2017 and 2018, Boston prevailed in five games with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combining to average 50.2 points per game.
The Cavs locked up Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley with extensions as they get ready for another playoff run to try to knock the Celtics off the perch. And don’t forget their matchup last March when Dean Wade drained five 3s and score 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Cavs stunned Boston.
Hawks vs. Wizards
Friday, Nov. 15 (7:30 ET, NBA League Pass)
A matchup of the top two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft – Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher and Washington’s Alex Sarr – who were part of a French revolution at the draft. Joined by No. 6 pick Tidjane Salaun, France became the first non-United States country to produce three top-10 picks in the same draft.
Both just 19 years old, Risacher and Sarr are raw, promising prospects who should meet for years to come in the NBA. And they could soon join forces on the France men’s national team with 2023 lottery picks Victor Wembanyama and Bilal Coulibaly.
West Group A: Timberwolves, Clippers, Kings, Rockets, Blazers
Kings vs. Timberwolves
Friday, Nov. 15 (10 ET, NBA League Pass)
These two teams were in the same group last year, meeting in Minnesota – where a Wolves’ win would have clinched a berth in the quarterfinals. During a matchup of two electrifying guards, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox (36 points, 12 assists) helped the Kings edge out Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards (35 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) to improve to 3-0 in Group Play.
The Kings then clinched the group in their final Group Play matchup, leaving Minnesota on the outside looking in.
Timberwolves vs. Clippers
Friday, Nov. 29 (7:30 ET, ESPN)
The regular season wound down with four teams embroiled in a back-and-forth battle for the top seed in the Western Conference: the Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves and Clippers, who finished in that order. The Wolves won the season series with the Clippers, 3-1, and two of the games were decided by four points or less.
LA will look a bit different following the departure of Paul George, also debuting a new logo, new uniforms and a new arena. The Wolves, however, are running it back with the same core that helped them reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years.
West Group B: Thunder, Suns, Lakers, Jazz, Spurs
Thunder vs. Spurs
Tuesday, Nov. 19 (9:30 ET, TNT)
Welcome to season two of Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren. The big men finished one and two in last year’s race for Kia Rookie of the Year. While Wemby earned the award unanimously, it was Chet who finished with a 2-1 edge in head-to-head matchups.
Holmgren and the Thunder finished first in the West last season, while Wembanyama enters his sophomore season looking to lead the Spurs up the standings after a 22-60 debut.
Lakers vs. Suns
Tuesday, Nov. 26 (10 ET, TNT)
After going nearly five years between matchups (Dec. 25, 2018 to Oct. 26, 2023), Kevin Durant and LeBron met five times last year, including two matchups in the NBA Cup – first in Group Play and then again in the quarterfinals. LeBron and the Lakers won both meetings on their way to a perfect 7-0 run to the inaugural championship.
Durant and James just teamed up to help the United States win a fifth straight gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but will be back competing for NBA honors as they continue to pile on the accolades.
West Group C: Nuggets, Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors, Grizzlies
Mavericks vs. Warriors
Tuesday, Nov. 12 (10 ET, TNT)
In one of the biggest moves of the offseason, Klay Thompson left Golden State in a sign-and-trade deal with Dallas. After 11 years and four championships with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and the Warriors, Thompson starts a new chapter with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Mavs. The Emirates NBA Cup will provide a stage for the first Klay-Warriors reunion game.
After watching the Splash Bros rain 3s on opponents for more than a decade, now we get to see them do so against one another.
Warriors vs. Nuggets
Tuesday, Dec. 3 (10 ET, TNT)
A multi-time NBA MVP winner hitting a 40-foot game-winner at the buzzer – that sounds a lot like Steph Curry, but in a Feb. 25 matchup between the Warriors and Nuggets, it was Nikola Jokic that hit one of the shots of the season to give the Nuggets a 130-127 win.
Jokic finished with 32 points, 16 boards and 16 assists for his third career 30/15/15 game. Only eight players have ever hit those marks in a game, and only Oscar Robertson (11) has more such games than the Joker.
