{"id":307965,"date":"2025-11-25T15:29:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T15:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/307965\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T15:29:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T15:29:20","slug":"starting-5-key-night-in-emirates-nba-cup-awaits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/307965\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: Key night in Emirates NBA Cup awaits"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Cade Time, gametime.<\/p>\n

A hook for 13 straight \u2013 and legendary Pistons company.<\/p>\n

\"Cade<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

Cup Week Begins: Coast 2 Coast Tuesday tips off the final week of NBA Cup Group Play<\/p>\n

East Streaks: Pistons match franchise-best heater, Raptors collect 8th straight dub<\/p>\n

Stars Shine: Joki\u0107 does it again, KAT dominates, Herro delivers in season debut<\/p>\n

West Statements: Kings overcome Ant\u2019s 43 in OT, Amen & Rockets cool Suns<\/p>\n

Roundup: Steph sparks Dubs, Zion powers Pels, Blazers beat Bucks<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

The final week of Emirates NBA Cup<\/a> Group Play delivers three Cup Nights this week \u2013 Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday highlights tonight\u2019s slate as the Sixers host the Magic (8 ET, NBC<\/a> | Tap to Watch<\/a>), before the Lakers face the Clippers (8 PT, NBC<\/a> | Tap to Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Up Next: Wednesday boasts a 9-game Cup Night \u2013 headlined by an ESPN tripleheader (DET-BOS, MIN-OKC, HOU-GSW) \u2013 before Group Play concludes on Friday with 11 matchups, including two on Prime (MIL-NYK, DAL-LAL). | More At The NBA Cup Hub<\/a><\/p>\n

\"NBA<\/p>\n

1. COAST 2 COAST TUESDAY OPENS EMIRATES NBA CUP WEEK<\/p>\n

\"NBA<\/p>\n

The race for the Cup is at full throttle.<\/p>\n

With only Toronto locked in, seven of the eight Knockout Round bids are still up for grabs, with 26 teams in the hunt and 23 games over the next four days to sort it out.<\/p>\n

It all starts tonight with a three-game slate, headlined by Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC & Peacock \u2013 featuring the Battle of L.A. with major Cup implications.<\/p>\n

Clippers at Lakers (8 PT, NBC): The two crosstown rivals enter tonight 2-0 in West Group B. But they share more than a city and unbeaten Group Play marks.<\/p>\n

A blistering superstar guard is driving both squads, with a franchise cornerstone returning just in time for a Cup push.<\/p>\n

Luka Magic: In the Lakers\u2019 fourth straight win on Sunday, Luka Don\u010di\u0107 \u2013 posting an NBA-best 34.5 ppg \u2013 became the first player ever to tally 400+ pts and 100+ ast in his first 12 games of a season
\nCity Splitter: Now, Luka gets an opponent he\u2019s thrived against \u2014 averaging 32.3 pts, 7.9 reb and 7.4 ast in 20 career games against the Clips \u2013 numbers unmatched by any player in NBA history against a single team (min. 20 GP)
\nJoining Him? The league\u2019s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, is averaging 14 pts and 10 ast in his two games back, while Austin Reaves continues to flourish (27.6 ppg)<\/p>\n

\"James<\/p>\n

Beard Balling: On the other side stands James Harden (27.8 ppg, 8.4 apg), who dropped a Clippers-record 55 points on Saturday and joins Luka, Nikola Joki\u0107 and Cade Cunningham as the only players averaging 27+ pts and 8+ ast this season.<\/p>\n

Back At His Side? Kawhi Leonard, who picked up right where he left off on Sunday (20 pts, 3 stl) after missing 10 games with an ankle sprain
\nThe Stakes: The Lakers can clinch West B with a win tonight, while the Clips need a win and a Grizzlies loss to the Pelicans on Wednesday<\/p>\n

\"Tyrese<\/p>\n

Magic at 76ers (8 ET, NBC): The league\u2019s second-leading scorer takes center stage to open Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, as Tyrese Maxey (33 ppg, 7.8 apg) and Philly \u2013 needing a win to avoid elimination \u2013 look to hand Orlando its first Group Play loss.<\/p>\n

Dual Threat: Maxey ranks 3rd in both total 3s this season (66) \u2013 hitting at a 41.5% clip \u2013 and total points off drives entering Monday (175)
\nStrength vs. Strength: Maxey hung 43 on Orlando in a 136-124 win on Oct. 27. But the Magic have tightened up in November, allowing the 8th-fewest points in the NBA (112.4 ppg). Who will dictate terms tonight?<\/p>\n

On League Pass (7 ET), the Hawks and Wizards will look to keep their Cup hopes alive in East A, with Jalen Johnson coming off a sensational Sunday showing, becoming the first Hawk to record 25+ pts, 10+ ast, 5+ reb and 0 turnovers in a game.<\/p>\n

2. MONDAY\u2019S BEST: PISTONS & RAPTORS EXTEND WIN STREAKS<\/p>\n

\"Cade<\/p>\n

In their 78-year history, only two Pistons teams had ever won 13 games in a row.<\/p>\n

Now, there are three.<\/p>\n

Pistons 122, Pacers 117: Cade Cunningham was clinical (24 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast), Jalen Duren added a double-double (17 pts, 12 reb) and Detroit staved off a late Pacers push to secure its 13th straight dub \u2013 matching its longest win streak in franchise history. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Pacers Push: Detroit jumped out to a 71-55 lead at the half, but Indy wouldn\u2019t go away, using a late 4th-quarter run to cut it to 2 with 49 ticks left
\nThen, Cade Time: Needing a bucket, Detroit cleared out for Cunningham, who buried a tough hook<\/a> to push the lead back to four with 25 seconds to play
\nClutch Touch: Cunningham added a late free throw to help seal the win, marking his 18th point of the 2nd-half while lifting the Pistons to 15-2<\/p>\n

\"Pistons<\/p>\n

Motown Mindset: The only other Detroit teams to win 13 straight? The 1989-90 Bad Boys and the 2003-04 squad \u2013 both NBA champions built on defense and toughness.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s squad carries that same edge, while carving out its own identity in the modern game.<\/p>\n

Defensive Force: The Pistons rank 3rd in DefRtg this season and are just the second team in the last decade to average 10+ steals and 5+ blocks amid a 13-game win streak \u2013 joining last season\u2019s Thunder
\nPaint Power: The offense has matched that force, leading the NBA in points in the paint, while ranking first in FG% (51%) amid the streak
\nBookend Stars: That starts with Cunningham \u2013 averaging 29.9 pts and 10.4 ast amid the streak \u2013 and ends with Duren, who\u2019s tallied eight double-doubles during the run
\nUp Next: Detroit looks to make it a record 14 straight and improve to 3-0 in NBA Cup Play as it visits Boston on Wednesday (5 ET, ESPN)
\n\u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d said Cunningham on the opportunity Wednesday presents. \u201cTo be able to make history for a historic franchise like this \u2013 it\u2019s special.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Raptors\"\/<\/p>\n

All aboard the Six train! Toronto\u2019s also on a tear, stacking dubs and dances.<\/p>\n

Raptors 110, Cavaliers 99: Brandon Ingram went off for a season-high 37 points, while Scottie Barnes stuffed the stat sheet (18 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast) to outlast Donovan Mitchell (17 pts, 8 ast) and the Cavs, tallying Toronto\u2019s eighth straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Balanced Bite: Ingram went 15-of-30 from the field with five 3s, lifting Toronto offensively while it held Cleveland to a season-low in points
\nDino Dubs: It\u2019s the Raptors\u2019 longest win streak in three years and just their seventh 8-game heater in franchise history<\/p>\n

3. STARS SHINE: JOKI\u0106 & KAT DOMINATE, HERRO DELIVERS IN DEBUT<\/p>\n

\"Nikola<\/p>\n

Speaking of heaters, Nikola Joki\u0107 decided the record books needed another update.<\/p>\n

Nuggets 125, Grizzlies 115: A buzzer-beating moonshot<\/a> from the logo, a behind-the-back spinning dish combo and yet another triple-double highlighted the Joker\u2019s latest masterclass as he dropped 17 points, 16 dimes and 10 boards to push Denver past the Grizz. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Record Pace: Joki\u0107\u2019s 10th triple-double in 17 games this season is the second-fastest anyone\u2019s reached that mark since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 (12 games)
\nPassing Clinic: It\u2019s also the Joker\u2019s third game this year with 15+ assists. Only five other players have one such game, and none of them has two
\nBackcourt Boost: Jamal Murray (29 pts, 8 ast, 6 3s) and Peyton Watson (27 pts, 5 3s) combined for 56 points and 11 treys as Denver improved to 13-4<\/p>\n

Joki\u0107 wasn\u2019t the only big who put up big numbers last night.<\/p>\n

Knicks 113, Nets 100: Karl-Anthony Towns couldn\u2019t be contained<\/a> as he turned in 37 points on 14-of-20 shooting while adding 12 boards to lead the Knicks past the Nets for the 12th consecutive time in the battle of the Boroughs. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

KAT Cooking: Towns now has 14 double-doubles in 16 games, trailing only Joki\u0107 (16) for the most in the NBA
\n1-2 Punch: Jalen Brunson added 27 for New York, which is now 7-3 in its last 10 games<\/p>\n

\"Karl-Anthony<\/p>\n

Tyler Herro played hero in his first game back \u2013 and the Heat stayed winning.<\/p>\n

Heat 106, Mavericks 102: After missing Miami\u2019s first 17 games while recovering from ankle surgery, Herro starred in his season debut (24 pts, 7 reb, 3 stl), knocking down a tie-breaking floater<\/a> with 42 seconds left to lift the Heat over the Mavs for their fifth straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Big-Time: Kel\u2019el Ware was a menace on both ends (20 pts, 18 reb, 3 blk), notching his third straight 20-point double-double, while Bam Adebayo added 17 points and the steal to set up Herro\u2019s winner
\n\u201cI happened to be in the right position and was able to get to my spot,\u201d said Herro on the shot. \u201cBut without Bam, we wouldn\u2019t have made that play.\u201d
\nMavs Spotlight: P.J. Washington (27 pts, 8 reb) led Dallas while Cooper Flagg posted 12 points, 7 boards, 3 assists and 2 steals<\/p>\n

4. WEST STATEMENTS: KINGS OUTDUEL ANT, ROCKETS STOP SUNS<\/p>\n

\"DeMar<\/p>\n

The Beam stays lit.<\/p>\n

Kings 117, Wolves 112 (OT): Two days after knocking off Denver, the Kings erased Minnesota\u2019s 14-point lead to force OT, where DeMar DeRozan delivered three straight buckets before icing the game at the line to overcome Anthony Edwards\u2019 43-point outburst<\/a>. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Clutch Duel: Edwards scored 26 after the half, including 8 in OT, but DeRozan was too much, answering each bucket to keep Minnesota at bay
\nVeteran Close: He finished with 33 points, including 9 of Sacramento\u2019s 16 points in OT, while going a perfect 15-of-15 from the line
\nMore Royalty: Keegan Murray (26 pts, 14 reb) and Malik Monk (22 pts) combined for 48 points as the Kings collected their first back-to-back wins of the season
\n\u201cThese are the things that help create the identity of fight and determination,\u201d said Kings coach Doug Christie on the win. \u201cFor us, it\u2019s huge.\u201d
\nKey Cup Duel: The Wolves (2-1 in Group Play) are back in action Wednesday against the Thunder (7:30 ET, ESPN), who lead West A with a 3-0 record<\/p>\n

\"Amen<\/p>\n

Rockets 114, Suns 92: With Kevin Durant out, Amen Thompson took over (28 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast, 1 soaring blk), while Aaron Holiday scored 22 on six triples to power the Rockets past the Suns, handing Phoenix just its second loss in 10 games. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Steady Ascent: After an 0-2 start, Houston has gone 11-2, with its only losses coming against Denver and San Antonio
\nFamiliar Face: Facing his former team, Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 29 points, while Devin Booker added 18<\/p>\n

5. ROUNDUP: STEPH & ZION FUEL WINS, BLAZERS BEAT BUCKS<\/p>\n

\"Steph<\/p>\n

Warriors 134, Jazz 117: Steph Curry splashed six 3s en route to 31 points, sparking a 41-20 2nd quarter that put Golden State in control for good, outpacing Keyonte George (28 pts, 7 ast) and Utah to halt a three-game slide. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Next Up, Houston: Both 1-2 in NBA Cup Play, the Dubs host the Rockets on Wednesday (10 ET, ESPN), with both teams seeking a crucial win<\/p>\n

Pelicans 143, Bulls 130: Zion Williamson barreled his way to 29 points, Saddiq Bey (13 reb) and Trey Murphy III (4 ast) added 20 apiece and five other Pels scored 10+ to top Ayo Dosunmu (28 pts) and the Bulls, snapping NOLA\u2019s nine-game skid. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Bey Treys: Bey nailed two clutch triples down the stretch to stave off a late Chicago run, securing interim coach James Borrego\u2019s first career win<\/p>\n

Blazers 115, Bucks 103: Jerami Grant poured in a season-high 35 points, Deni Avdija added 22 and Donovan Clingan posted a double-double (14 pts, 12 reb) to power Portland to a near wire-to-wire win over Bobby Portis (22 pts) and Milwaukee, moving both teams to 8-10. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cade Time, gametime. A hook for 13 straight \u2013 and legendary Pistons company. 5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":307966,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[64,63,590,85,8019],"class_list":{"0":"post-307965","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-nba","11":"tag-sports","12":"tag-starting-5"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=307965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307965\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/307966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=307965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=307965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=307965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}