NBA Cup group play is wrapping up. Friday\u2019s 11-game slate started with 12 teams battling for six spots in the tournament\u2019s knockout rounds, beginning with the Magic securing a berth in the knockout round.<\/p>\n
As the East\u2019s NBA Cup group play subsides, let\u2019s go game by game to examine each result from Friday\u2019s slate as the West groups begin their matchups:<\/p>\n
New York Knicks 118, Milwaukee Bucks 107<\/p>\n
The Knicks faced multiple double-digit deficits and had one of their own shrink, but they were able to pull out a gritty win against the Bucks in Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s return.<\/p>\n
secured the dub \ud83d\udc4f<\/p>\n
Jalen 37 PTS | 4 3PM | 5 AST \u2014 NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Jalen Brunson did whatever he wanted against Milwaukee through the first three quarters, scoring 31 points in that span. It forced the Bucks to blitz him in the fourth quarter, but his teammates made just enough shots to close out Milwaukee\u2019s late push.<\/p>\n New York will stop in Toronto for the quarterfinals before a potential trip to Las Vegas for the semifinals and finals. This is important because the Knicks will travel more than any other team in the NBA this season if they make it to Las Vegas. New York spent a week in Abu Dhabi for the preseason. The two cross-country flights required if it makes it to Las Vegas are separate from the west coast road trips still on the schedule.<\/p>\n Something to monitor in the second half of the season. \u2014 James Edwards III, Knicks beat writer<\/p>\n Orlando Magic 112, Detroit Pistons 109<\/p>\n Contentious contests have become the norm between the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons, and Friday\u2019s NBA Cup matchup was no different as the Magic outlasted the Pistons to clinch East Group B. In addition to clinching, Orlando handed Detroit its first back-to-back losses of the season. Cade Cunningham paced Detroit with his second triple-double of the year, finishing with 39 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Pistons finished with more turnovers (24) than assists (22), allowed four offensive rebounds in final minute and missed seven free throws in a game decided by three points. WAGIC WIN\ud83e\ude84<\/p>\n East Group B Champs!! pic.twitter.com\/1kQ4hWG6Oh<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Desmond Bane at DET:<\/p>\n 37 PTS \u2014 Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Atlanta Hawks 130, Cleveland Cavaliers 123<\/p>\n Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson talked before the game about pre-game worries, and not so much about the scoring margin. In retrospect, that seems wise. The Cavs had scenarios where winning by 16 or more would help them advance in the NBA Cup, but they ended up not winning at all in Atlanta. Cleveland fell 130-123 to the Hawks thanks to a rash of turnovers (17) and uncharacteristically poor transition defense (36 Atlanta fastbreak points).<\/p>\n Atlanta\u2019s Jalen Johnson, making a push for an All-Star bid, punished the Cavs with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists for his second triple-double of the season, while guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 28.<\/p>\n DE\u2019ANDRE HUNTER SAID: IT\u2019S POSTER TIME \ud83d\ude2e<\/p>\n \ud83c\udd9a CLE-ATL \u2022 East Group A \u2014 NBA (@NBA) November 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Cleveland got 42 from star guard Donovan Mitchell but precious little from the supporting cast. Forward De\u2019Andre Hunter, in his first game back in Atlanta since being dealt to Cleveland by the Hawks there at the February trade deadline, scored 15, including a huge dunk on Mo Gueye that ended in a shoving match between the two.<\/p>\n The Cavs were also hurt by a late jump ball when the game was tied with 1:24 left and the game tied at 123, when Atlanta\u2019s 6-8 Onyeka Okongwu unexpectedly out-tipped Cleveland\u2019s 7-foot Jarrett Allen to secure possession for Atlanta. Zaccharie Rishacer hit a 3 on the Hawks\u2019 possession, and after Alexander-Walker followed with a triple of his own on the next Atlanta trip, the outcome was all but assured. \u2014\u00a0John Hollinger, senior NBA writer<\/p>\n San Antonio Spurs 139, Denver Nuggets 136<\/p>\n The Spurs continue to play well without Victor Wembanyama, securing their NBA Cup quarterfinals berth with a 139-136 win over the Denver Nuggets. Julian Champagnie was the surprise star for the team, playing more aggressively than he has all season for a season-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. Devin Vassell shot lights out in crunchtime, while De\u2019Aaron Fox recorded his third double-digit assist game of the season.<\/p>\n Most impressively, the Spurs were able to keep Nikola Joki\u0107 at bay most of the night, as the three-time MVP took only 10 shots and never quite took over the game. The Spurs have learned over this stretch without their franchise cornerstone that their defensive identity holds up without him, and their offense can open up now that Fox and Dylan Harper are healthy. \u2014 \u00a0Jared Weiss, Spurs beat writer<\/p>\n COMEBACK COMPLETE! pic.twitter.com\/rVnUMi3tA5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n WALKING BUCKET @Yvngdevo<\/a> \ud83e\udea3 pic.twitter.com\/VkAJRLE447<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Oklahoma City Thunder 123, Phoenix Suns 119<\/p>\n The Thunder escaped with a win against the scrappy Suns and clinched West Group A of the NBA Cup. OKC nearly gave this game away in the closing seconds after Collin Gillespie knocked the ball away from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and both teams scrambled for possession. Alex Caruso came up with the ball and dished it to SGA, who clinched the game with free throws to secure the matchup\u2019s final score.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udde1\ufe0f. pic.twitter.com\/T5lTDtt4xo<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Postgame breakdown with @shaiglalex<\/a> and @NickAGallo<\/a> after the W \ud83c\udf99\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/W1bCJBUQrw<\/a><\/p>\n
Josh 19 PTS | 15 REB | 7 AST | 3 STL
Deuce 19 PTS | 2 REB | 5 3PM
Mikal 14 PTS | 4 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL pic.twitter.com\/9jLVcOANMM<\/a><\/p>\n
Desmond Bane began jawing with multiple Pistons prior to tipoff, and continued throughout the evening. His antics fueled his game as he dropped a team-high 37 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal.<\/p>\n
Detroit is now effectively eliminated from the Cup and will travel to Miami to play the Heat on Saturday for the second night of back-to-back games looking to avoid its third loss in a row. \u2014 Hunter Patterson, Pistons beat writer<\/p>\n
8 REB
13-25 FG
11-12 FT pic.twitter.com\/Rx01n562o1<\/a><\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfc6 @emirates<\/a> NBA Cup
\ud83d\udcfa NBA League Pass: https:\/\/t.co\/sG94ydH6KJ<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/GIHxKM8hRA<\/a><\/p>\n