The NBA is back in action after Thanksgiving with a full-day Black Friday feast. Two-thirds of the league will be playing as the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup resumes with 10 games, starting with Knicks-Hornets at 12 p.m. ET and ending with a Thunder-Lakers matchup at 10 p.m. ET.
In Friday’s 10-game NBA Cup slate, the top eight teams in the East and West will advance to the knockout rounds after two more nights of Group Play. The group winners and two “wild cards” (the teams with the best record in group play that finished second in their group) will move on to the single-elimination knockout rounds.
Tiebreakers will likely determine the advancing teams based on head-to-head record, point differentials, total points, regular-season records, and a random drawing if necessary. The quarterfinal games will be played on December 10 and 11, with the winners advancing to Las Vegas for the semifinals on December 14, and the championship game on December 17.
Teams that do not make it to Las Vegas will still play regular-season games during the knockout rounds. The 22 teams who didn’t qualify for the knockouts will each play two regular-season games on designated days.
In Group Play, the Pelicans, Wizards, Jazz, and Raptors have been eliminated, while teams like the Warriors, Rockets, Bucks, and Knicks are sitting pretty with strong performances. The Mavericks, Bulls, Hawks, Celtics, Suns, Lakers, and Spurs are still in the hunt for knockout round spots.
The article also provides detailed standings for each group in both the East and West conferences, along with Friday’s schedule and clinching scenarios. Fans can catch the action on NBA TV and ESPN throughout the day.