NBA Cup 2025: direct elimination quarter-final matches set, see the program, details of the matches
We are in the round of 16.
There was plenty of drama on the final night of NBA Cup bracket play, with the Magic, Thunder and Spurs coming out on top, while losses by the Cavaliers and Pistons opened the door for Miami to become a wild card.
Announcement
Here are the four quarterfinal matches, with how the teams got there and some quick analysis.
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat at Orlando Magic
December 9th
How they got here: Orlando clinched Group B East and the No. 1 seed overall with a win over Detroit on Friday. That Pistons loss, as well as the Cavaliers loss, opened the door and Miami walked through it to advance as a Wild Card with a 3-1 record.
Game Analysis: Orlando has found its balance and gone 6-2 with Paolo Banchero out: the team is making quick decisions, the ball is moving, the pace is high and the Magic’s elite defense from a season ago is starting to take shape. Banchero should be back in the lineup by this December 9th game, but can he adapt to what worked in Orlando? The model could be Tyler Herro in Miami. The Heat began the season without their All-Star, but the combination of a new-style offensive attack that eschews picks in favor of isolation attacks, as well as the brilliant play of Norman Powell, made the Heat one of the best stories of the first quarter of the NBA season. When Herro returned, he integrated seamlessly into this system and made it even better. If Banchero can’t do that or Orlando struggles at all, this Heat team will exploit him.
Announcement
New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors
December 9th
How they got here: Toronto advanced as the No. 2 seed with a 4-0 record in NBA Cup play, but had clinched its spot a week ago with a win over Washington. New York secured its spot by beating Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee on Friday to clinch Group B, thanks to some big 3-pointers from Duece McBride that helped the team pull away in the fourth.
Game Analysis: RJ Barrett’s revenge game? Styles create fights and that’s cool. Toronto wants to run: It starts more possessions in transition than any other team in the league and has athletes who can finish in space with Barrett, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. The Knicks are bottom 10 in percentage of plays that start in transition, but have the sixth-best first-shot half-court attack in the league, behind Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Which team dictates the style of play wins here, and when the Knicks slow the game down, can Brandon Ingram dominate the half court for the Raptors?
Western Conference
Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder
December 10th
How they got here: This game will be the rematch of the one seen on Friday night, won by the Thunder 123-119 behind 37 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With that, the Thunder won Group A West, but the Suns were still 3-1 in the group and had the point difference to advance as a Wild Card.
Announcement
Game Analysis: No one has been able to slow the Thunder’s 19-1 run this season, but Phoenix has shown how it can give them a game — and why the Suns have been one of the NBA’s surprise teams this season — with its balanced attack. Sure, SGA had the headlines, but Oklahoma City got Jalen Williams back on Friday, and while his shot looked understandably rusty (this was his first game back after offseason wrist surgery), he finished with 11 points, eight assists and played top-notch defense. Phoenix had six players score in double figures, led by Collin Gillespie with 24 and Devin Booker with 21. Phoenix has been a surprise this season, but they’re solid, and this will be a great stage to show the rest of the NBA just that.
San Antonio vs. the Los Angeles Lakers
December 10th
How they got here: The Lakers conquered Group B West Tuesday night with a convincing win over the Clippersthen secured home court on Friday with a win over Anthony Davis and Dallas (a game later played on a regular NBA court Luka Doncic defined the Lakers’ match as “dangerous”. after the Clippers game; the NBA Cup court is expected to return for this game). The win against Dallas summed up the Lakers this season: The Mavs made a fourth-quarter push and took a one-point lead, then Doncic and Austin Reaves took over to total 73 points that night (LeBron James is now a great third option in Los Angeles).
San Antonio won Group C West by beating Denver – and without Victor Wembanyama or Stephon Castle, both injured (Wemby is unlikely to return for the next NBA Cup game). Devin Vassell was 7 of 9 from 3-point range on his way to 35 points for San Antonio, who also got 25 points and 10 rebounds from Julian Champagnie, who is having a strong season at Texas.
Announcement
Game Analysis: San Antonio went an impressive 5-1 without Wembanyama, thanks to the great play of DeAaron Fox who led the league’s fifth-best offense in that stretch. This will make for an intriguing matchup against a Lakers team with an elite offense behind Doncic – who plays like an MVP and leads the league with 35.1 points per game – and just enough defense. Bet more on this one, then get the popcorn, it should be fun.
When it’s the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the finals
Here is the program for the quarter-finals and beyond:
Quarter-finals: 9 and 10 December (home of the highest seeded team)
Announcement
Semifinals: December 13 (Las Vegas)
Championship: December 16 (Las Vegas)
How much money does the champion receive?
Make no mistake, for the players it’s all about the money and the teams that have advanced this far will receive some pay, but they have all eyes on the big prize.
“I think half a million dollars is still a good amount of money to motivate you to want to win games,” the Lakers’ Jake LaRavia told NBC Sports.
Players from teams that advance past the group stage receive bonuses from a league-sponsored prize pool, while teams that advance further receive more. It breaks down like this:
Announcement
• Each player on the team that wins the championship: $530,933
• Each player on the losing team in the championship: $212,373
• Each player on a team that loses in the semifinals: $106,187
• Each player on a team that loses in the quarterfinals: $53,093
How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock
NBA Peacock Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week during the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday features doubleheaders on Tuesday nights during the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8pm ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones and an 8pm PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings every week. Both games will be streamed live nationwide Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock on February 1, 2026. For the complete NBA schedule on NBC and Peacock, Click here.