The Emirates NBA Cup is now in its second season (known as the In-Season Tournament last season). The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural in-season event and thus are the only team that can claim they have won the tournament. While they are certainly still alive to win once again, they are not the first team to advance through the group stage.
There were eight NBA Cup group stage games on Friday night. After those eight contests, there was one team that has officially advanced through the group stage and one that was eliminated from advancing.
NBA Cup: One Team Officially Advances, One Officially Eliminated
The Warriors Advance through NBA Cup Group Stage, The Pelicans Are Eliminated
In one of Friday night’s NBA Cup group stage outings, the Golden State Warriors defeated the New Orleans Pelicans by the score of 112-108. Not only did that game allow Golden State to become the first team to officially advance through the group stage, it also caused New Orleans to become the first team eliminated.
There have been eight teams to participate in three NBA Cup group stage games this season. The only one that is 3-0 are the Warriors who have now advanced by clinching West Group C. Their group also consists of the Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, and Memphis Grizzlies.
While point differential is the second tiebreaker in group play, and the Warriors are just a +12 in their three outings, they have advanced due to their head-to-head victory over Dallas. On the opening night of the NBA Cup (November 12), Golden State defeated the Mavericks 120-117. On November 15, the Warriors took care of business against the Grizzlies, winning by the score of 123-118. In their three close NBA Cup games, the Warriors have had a different leading scorer in each one. Against Dallas, Stephen Curry led the way with 37 points. Buddy Hield was Golden State’s leading scorer against Memphis with 18. On Friday night against the Pelicans, Andrew Wiggins topped all players with 30.
Meanwhile, New Orleans did win their NBA Cup opener against the Nuggets, but now have lost two straight. The injury-ravaged squad were humiliated 132-91 on November 19 to the Mavericks prior to Friday’s loss to Golden State. With the Pelicans officially eliminated, there are now 29 teams with at least a slimmer of hope of being crowned the 2024 NBA Cup champions.
How Many Teams Advance Through Group Stage? Plus Remaining NBA Cup Schedule
The NBA Cup group stage consists of three groups of five teams in each conference. The winner of each group plus one wild card team in each conference will advance through the group stage. Group stage games take place on Tuesdays and Fridays from November 12 until December 3. There are five more NBA Cup games happening on Tuesday, November 26.
The eight teams that advance past the group stage then will take part in the knockout round. The four East teams will be one side of the single-elimination bracket, with the four West teams on the other side. Two quarterfinal games will take place on both Tuesday, December 10 and Wednesday, December 11. The two semifinal contests will happen on Saturday, December 14. The 2024 NBA Cup championship game will occur on Tuesday, December 17.
