As a refresher, all 30 teams were placed in groups of five based on the previous season’s regular-season record and a random drawing, creating three divisions in each conference. If two or more teams are tied in a group, the following tiebreakers (in sequential order) will come into play:
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Head-to-head record in group play
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Point differential in group play (overtime scoring will not count towards tiebreakers)
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Total points scored in group play (overtime scoring will not count towards tiebreakers)
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Records from the 2024–25 NBA regular season
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Random drawing (in the unlikely scenario that two or more teams are still tied after the last tiebreaker)
Here’s what you need to know for Wednesday’s slate.
former position , west status , who is moving forward , knockout stage
eastern conference breakdown
Here’s a look at the standings, tiebreakers, clinching scenario and remaining schedule for each group in the East.
what to know
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Raptors have won Group A
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Caves, magicians, falconry in the wild-card hunt
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Pacers have been eliminated
Wednesday’s decisive scenario
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Hawks eliminated with Knicks + Heat wins
remaining programs
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Wednesday: Pacers at Raptors, 7:30 pm ET
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Friday: Cavaliers at Hawks, 7:30 pm ET
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Friday: Wizards at Pacers, 7:30 pm ET
what to know
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Magic or Pistons will win Group B
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Nets, Celtics in wild-card hunt
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76 people have been removed
Wednesday’s decisive scenario
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Celtics eliminated with Knicks + Heat wins
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Nets eliminated with Knicks + Heat wins
remaining programs
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Friday: 76ers at Nets, 7:30 pm ET
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Friday: Magic at Pistons, 7:30 pm ET
what to know
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Bucks, Heat or Knicks will win Group C
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Bulls, Hornets still in wild-card hunt
head-to-head tiebreaker
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Runs its tiebreaker on heats
Wednesday’s decisive scenario
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Bucks take over Group C with win + Knicks loss
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Heat take over Group C with win and Knicks loss
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Knicks go out with loss and Pistons win
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Bulls eliminated by Knicks + Heat wins
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Hornets bow out with defeat
remaining programs
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Wednesday: Knicks at Hornets, 7 p.m. ET
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Wednesday: Bucks at Heat, 7:30 pm ET
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Friday: Bulls at Hornets, 7:30 pm ET
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Friday: Bucks at Knicks, 7:30 pm ET
western conference breakup
Here’s a look at the standings, tiebreakers, clinching scenario and remaining schedule for each group in the West.
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what to know
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Thunder, Suns or Timberwolves will win Group A
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jazz has been removed
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The Kings are still in the wild-card hunt
head-to-head tiebreaker
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Suns have their own tiebreaker over Timberwolves
Wednesday’s decisive scenario
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Timberwolves are eliminated with a loss + Suns’ win, or a loss + Grizzlies’ win.
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The Kings go out with a loss, or the Wolves win, or the Grizzlies win
remaining programs
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Wednesday: Timberwolves at Thunder, 7:30 pm ET
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Wednesday: Suns at Kings, 10 p.m. ET
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Friday: Sun with thunderstorms, 9:30 pm ET
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Friday: Jazz at Kings, 9:30 PM ET
what to know
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The Lakers have won Group B
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Mavericks, Pelicans have been eliminated
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Clippers, Grizzlies still in wild-card hunt
Wednesday’s decisive scenario
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Grizzlies finish with a loss + either Timberwolves or Suns win
remaining programs
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Wednesday: Grizzlies at Pelicans, 8 p.m. ET
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Friday: Mavericks at Lakers, 10 p.m. ET
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Friday: Grizzlies at Clippers, 10 p.m. ET
what to know
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Blazers, Nuggets or Spurs will win Group C
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Rockets, Warriors in wild-card hunt
head-to-head tiebreaker
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Blazers have tiebreaker over Nuggets and Warriors
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Nuggets to give tiebreaker to Nuggets and Rockets
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Spurs have their own tiebreaker over Rockets
Wednesday’s decisive scenario
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Trail Blazers clinched Group C with the win
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Trail Blazers are out with a loss + either the Rockets, Wolves, Suns or Grizzlies win
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Spurs finish with a loss + either the Wolves, Suns or Grizzlies win
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The Rockets finished with a loss or the Blazers, Wolves, Suns or Grizzlies won.
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The Warriors bow out with a loss, or either the Wolves, Suns or Grizzlies win, or a worse point differential than the Blazers or Spurs.
remaining programs
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Wednesday: Rockets at Warriors, 10 p.m. ET
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Wednesday: Spurs at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET
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Friday: Spurs at Nuggets, 9:30 PM ET
Who is advancing to the knockout stage?
East
Group A: Raptors
Group B:
Group C:
Wild Card:
West
Group A:
Group B: Lakers
Group C:
Wild Card:
How does the knockout stage work?
The eight teams advancing from group play will compete in a single-elimination tournament. The NBA Cup Quarterfinals will be held on December 9 and 10, with the higher-seeded teams hosting the quarterfinals on their home grounds. The four winners will advance to the semi-finals in Las Vegas.
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(During the knockout stage, the 22 teams that did not qualify will each play two scheduled, regular-season games.)
The NBA Cup Semifinals and Finals will take place on December 13 and December 16, respectively.
Players of the teams participating in the knockout stage will earn prize money.
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