With the semifinals scheduled for Saturday and the finals scheduled for Tuesday, the NBA in-season tournament, formally known as the Emirates NBA Cup, is coming to an end.
The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host the event.
What is the NBA Cup and how does it work?
According to the NBA, group play for the second annual in-season tournament began on November 12 and involved the random assignment of all 30 NBA clubs into conferences of five teams based on their win-loss record from the previous regular season.
Each team played four group play games on “Cup Nights” until December 3; two of these games were played at home and two away. Each team played one game against each of its group opponents.
Following that, eight clubs advanced to the knockout stages, with one wild card from each conference and the team with the best standing in each of the six group play groups. The quarterfinals on Tuesday marked the start of this phase of play.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Golden State Warriors were among the eight teams who advanced.
The NBA stated that, with the exception of the Championship, every game played for the Cup will count toward the regular-season standings.
Who will play in the semifinals and how can I watch?
At 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, the Hawks will play the Bucks in the semifinals’ opening round. TNT will broadcast the game.
The Rockets will play the Thunder at 8:30 p.m. ET. ABC will broadcast the game.
Who will play in the finals and how do I watch?
The victor of the semifinals—Either Atlanta or Milwaukee vs. Houston or Oklahoma City—will play in the championship match.
ABC will broadcast the game on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.
What does the winning team get?
The NBA stated that players on teams who advanced to the knockout stages would receive a portion of the prize fund, which would increase based on how far a team advanced in the competition. The winning team will also receive a trophy from the eponymous NBA Cup.
A media panel will choose the tournament’s MVP following the championship game. Additionally, an All-Tournament Team will be selected.
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