LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 17: The NBA Cup logo before the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder during the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game on December 17, 2024 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
NBA Cup Hub 💻🏀
Missed a night of Group Play? No problem. Find everything you need to know about the latest developments in the 2025 NBA Cup here, including statistics, results, and standings as teams enter their second and third games of the opening stage.
November 21, 8:28 PM
Mean in Green 😤
Look out for Neemias Queta! The Celtics big man rolled to the rim and finished with authority. Brooklyn isn’t going anywhere, though, as the teams exchange leads with halftime approaching.
“NEEMIAS QUETA, DEFYING GRAVITY.”
POSTER SLAM FROM THE CELTICS BIG MAN 💥
🆚 BKN-BOS • East Group B
🏆 @emirates NBA Cup
📺 NBA League Pass: https://t.co/OhxB85q7y3 pic.twitter.com/E1NFEaWzAe
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2025
November 21, 8:18 PM
HT in Cleveland
The Cavaliers are gaining separation from the Pacers, but Indiana is still in striking range at the half. Darius Garland has a game-high 18 points after a hot-shooting half from beyond the arc. The trio of Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin have combined for 44 of the Pacers’ 55 points at the break.
AT THE HALF. #LetEmKnow
📊 HIGHLIGHTS & STATS: https://t.co/P4ouug6Rgv
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 22, 2025
November 21, 8:10 PM
6MOY Contender 👀
The new free-flowing offense in Miami has reinvigorated the Heat. Only two teams score more than the Heat’s nightly average of 123.6 points. One clear beneficiary has been Jaime Jaquez Jr., who appears to be at home in this system. He’s among the top in many off-the-bench statistics, while being one of the most relentless drivers in the league.
We’re getting the 6th Man of the Year conversation started early because there’s only one option to consider… @jaquez_jr!
The Case // @Kia pic.twitter.com/fJZkzBwxlx
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 21, 2025
November 21, 8:00 PM
Lottery Pick Showcase
Here’s a look at the starting lineups for tonight’s matchup with the Mavericks and Pelicans. Dallas remains without Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, but top overall draft pick Cooper Flagg is back in the lineup. The Duke rookie missed the previous game due to an illness.
Tonight’s starters ⤵️@ModeloUSA // #MFFL pic.twitter.com/2fxwxi1bgp
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 22, 2025
Fears. Herb. Trey. Zion. DQ. pic.twitter.com/qbYh3YbtdG
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) November 22, 2025
On the other side, New Orleans is starting a pair of lottery picks. Point guard Jeremiah Fears was chosen seventh overall while big man Derik Queen was chosen 13th. Queen was exceptional in his last game, finishing with 30 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals against the Denver Nuggets.
November 21, 7:53 PM
MPJ on a Tear 😮💨
The Nets hold an early lead over the Celtics, even though Michael Porter Jr. has started one-of-four from the field. If recent trends continue, expect MPJ to heat up tonight. Over his last seven games he’s averaging 27 points per contest.
Michael Porter Jr. over his last 7 games:
🎯 27.0 PPG
🎯 7.4 RPG
🎯 3.4 APG
🎯 38.1 3P% pic.twitter.com/8Mz1z4skQ3
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 22, 2025
November 21, 7:45 PM
Sharing is Caring
Cleveland takes a slim lead into the second quarter over the Pacers. Evan Mobley is the leading scorer for his team after finishing the quarter with 12 points and two rebounds. The ball zipped around the half-court before finding Donovan Mitchell for this swish from downtown. The Pacers trail 33-31 after one.
Ball movement MASTERY from the Cavs!
Nance to Ball to Wade to Spida for the splash.
🏆 IND-CLE • East Group A @emirates NBA Cup on Prime pic.twitter.com/7F5auEziEG
— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2025
7:30 Slate begins 🕢
Nets @ Celtics – Watch
Wizards @ Raptors – Watch
November 21, 7:28 PM
Nembhard going to work
Andrew Nembhard holds the reigns at point guard for the Pacers, in the absence of Tyrese Haliburton. He’s getting the job done early tonight, as the first Pacers player to reach double-digits. His team is looking for their first NBA Cup win, as they only have two wins total on the year.
Andrew Nembhard stepback three is so smooth 😮💨
📺 @NBAonPrime pic.twitter.com/Z5NmHSmq0F
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 22, 2025
Mathurin’s Scorching Start 🔥
Indiana Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin has missed more games than he’s played this year, but he’s been elite scoring the ball when available. Pacers legend Reggie Miller is the only player in franchise history with a high scoring average through their first four games of a season. Aaron Nesmith is out tonight for Indiana, along with Haliburton, of course, leaving the door open for another big scoring night for Mathurin.
Bennedict Mathurin has scored the second-most points by any player in their first four games of a season in franchise history, trailing Reggie Miller by just one point 🔥
he’s averaging a career-high 27.8 PPG through four games this year. pic.twitter.com/xw9d4syjfm
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) November 20, 2025
November 21, 7:10 PM
Celts & Nets tip-off Soon
Both teams enter this matchup with ground to cover in East Group B. The Celtics hold a one-game edge on the Nets, who are in search of a win after dropping the team’s first two tournament games. Jaylen Brown enters the night averaging a career-high 27.5 points on the season.
First five on the floor ⤵️@DraftKings pic.twitter.com/F6vldILEm8
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 21, 2025
The Nets players chimed in on a hotly debated internet trend as of late, pertaining to fashion: Quarter zip or Nike tech? It was a tight race decided by a single vote in the end. The team’s leading scorer, Michael Porter Jr., opting for neither. Instead he shouted out Puma, the brand he rocks on the court.
quarter-zip 🆚 nike tech?
yea…we all knew what @NoahClowney was picking 😂 pic.twitter.com/H6l4D2X8Ks
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 21, 2025
Cleveland’s Keys 🔑
The Cavaliers believe big man Evan Mobley is the x-factor in tonight’s NBA Cup contest. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has been tame as of late, scoring 20 or more points just once in his past five outings. Clevelands coaching staff believes getting him going early tonight could be the difference maker.
CUP KEYS. @keybank | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/3DMwS7R2Yd
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 21, 2025
November 21, 2025 6:50 PM
Top storylines to follow 👇
The chopping block: In tonight’s NBA Cup action, some teams will have the chance to move one step closer to advancing to the next round, while others are on the verge of elimination. Those who fall in the middle will be competing to the final whistle, as point differential is used as the final tiebreaker for the current stage.
Raptors, Wolves looking for 3-0 start: Toronto has looked the part of a true NBA Cup contender. The Raptors are looking to maintain their early season momentum with a win tonight, as all other teams in East Group A have at least one loss already. It’s a similar case for Minnesota, also looking for a 3rd win tonight. Except, the Suns and Thunder are also unbeaten in West Group A. The Timberwolves will have to keep Phoenix at bay to maintain pole position.
Rockets-Nuggets Showdown: Behind only Oklahoma City, Denver and Houston are the top teams in the Western Conference standings. All three of the West’s current top-three teams belong in West Group C, beside the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. This group is deadlocked with all five teams entering the night 1-1 so far in Group Play.