Knicks and Bucks reach NBA Cup knockouts.©(@BleacherReport )
The Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks secured their spots in the knockout stage of the NBA Cup with dominant victories, sweeping their respective groups. At the same time, the reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, were eliminated. The Knicks delivered a 121-106 victory over the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden, finishing East Group A unbeaten and securing home-field advantage for the quarter-finals. Karl-Anthony Towns had an outstanding performance with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Josh Hart contributed a triple-double, documenting 11 topics, 13 rebounds, and ten assists. Despite the loss, the Magic advanced to the East wild card spot on points differential over the Celtics, who also ended the group stage with a 3-1 record.
The Bucks cruised to a 128-107 win over the Detroit Pistons, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard leading the charge. Antetokounmpo, the NBA MVP in 2019 and 2020, scored 28 points, grasped seven rebounds, and dished out eight assists, while Lillard added 27 points. The Bucks also set a new record by hitting 23 three-pointers during their seventh consecutive win, and they will host the Orlando Magic in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
In other results, Luka Doncic’s 37-point performance helped the Dallas Mavericks overcome a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116, securing the West wild card spot. The Mavericks will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, who clinched West Group B with a dominant 133-106 victory over the Utah Jazz, despite the Phoenix Suns’ best efforts. The Knicks will host the Atlanta Hawks, winners of East Group C, on Wednesday.
The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors also progressed to the quarter-finals after winning their respective groups despite final-game losses to the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets. The upcoming quarter-final matchups will be crucial, as the winners will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for December 14 in Las Vegas, with the final taking place three days later in the same city.
In Tuesday’s other NBA Cup games, the LA Clippers defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 127-105, the Phoenix Suns triumphed over the San Antonio Spurs 104-93, and the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the Washington Wizards 118-87. The Philadelphia 76ers secured a 110-104 road victory against the Charlotte Hornets, while the Toronto Raptors beat the Indiana Pacers 122-111.
