The Emirates NBA Cup 2025 is entering its most intense phase as the Knockout Rounds tip off on Dec. 9 and 10, featuring eight teams fighting for a spot in Las Vegas and the right to compete for this year’s in-season championship.

The six group winners — Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, Magic, Raptors and Knicks — are joined by two wild cards, the Heat in the East and Suns in the West. The top four seeds (OKC, Lakers, Magic, Raptors) will host the quarterfinals before the tournament shifts to Las Vegas for the semifinals (Dec. 13) and the championship game (Dec. 16).

Beyond the trophy itself, the NBA Cup offers a playoff-like atmosphere early in the season — something NBA leadership believes can elevate young teams and sharpen contenders.

“Competition is at an all-time high. It’s emerging teams versus established teams,” said NBA EVP James Jones.
“Some teams will use this Cup experience as a springboard — similar to Indiana two years ago — to make a run at the Finals.”

Here’s a full breakdown of every quarterfinal matchup, plus the schedule, dates, and group play recap.

NBA Cup 2025 Quarterfinal Schedule

Monday, December 9

• Heat at Magic – 6 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

• Knicks at Raptors – 8:30 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

Tuesday, December 10

• Suns at Thunder – 7:30 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

• Spurs at Lakers – 10 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

Semifinals (Las Vegas): Saturday, Dec. 13
Championship (Las Vegas): Tuesday, Dec. 16

Quarterfinal Matchup Previews

1. Miami Heat (4) vs. Orlando Magic (1)

Dec. 9 – 6 p.m. ET, Prime Video

The Magic enter the Knockout Rounds as one of the NBA Cup’s most dominant teams, finishing 4-0 in Group Play with an East-best +64 point differential — and they did it largely without Paolo Banchero, who remains out with a groin injury.

Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane, and Jalen Suggs have anchored Orlando’s surge as the team sits fifth in the East standings.

Miami claims the East wild card at 3-1 (+49) behind a strong two-way approach featuring Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell and Tyler Herro. Miami brings the 5th-best defense, 8th-best net rating, and the league’s fastest pace, but they fell to Orlando 125–121 on opening night.

This Florida rivalry showdown is one of the most evenly matched duels of the bracket.

2. New York Knicks (3) vs. Toronto Raptors (2)

Dec. 9 – 8:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video

Two of the East’s most surprising contenders meet in a high-stakes rematch.

The Raptors have skyrocketed to 15-7, second in the East, after winning only 30 games last season. Their elite defense (6th), ball security (3rd in assist-to-turnover ratio), and dominant trio of Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, and RJ Barrett — combining for 61.2 PPG — powered Toronto’s perfect 4-0 (+55) group run.

The Knicks, meanwhile, boast the third-best offense and fourth-best net rating under new coaching leadership.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns lead the attack with 50.3 PPG, while Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby form a top-tier defensive core.

New York is the only franchise to reach the quarterfinals in all three NBA Cup seasons, and they recently blew out the Raptors 116–94 on Nov. 30.

3. Phoenix Suns (4) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (1)

Dec. 10 – 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video

The question entering this matchup:
Can anyone slow down the Thunder?

At 21-1, OKC joins elite historical company with a 13-game winning streak. They own:

• #1 defense

• Top 5 offense

• Best net rating in the NBA

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been unstoppable: 32.8 points, 6.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds in 33 minutes.

The Thunder went 4-0 (+75) in Group Play, including a 123–119 win over Phoenix.

The Suns finished 3-1 (+31) but suffered a massive setback:
Devin Booker is out with a groin injury. Without him, they’ll rely heavily on their dramatically improved defense and leadership from veteran contributors.

This may be the toughest challenge in the bracket.

4. San Antonio Spurs (3) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (2)

Dec. 10 – 10 p.m. ET, Prime Video

The Lakers headline the night with star power at maximum capacity.

Luka Dončić has been the most dominant offensive player in the league with:

• 35.3 PPG (highest since 2019 Harden)

• 8.9 APG (top 5)

• 8.9 RPG (2nd among guards)

Austin Reaves has emerged as a legitimate star as well, averaging 28.1 PPG, 6.6 APG, 5.7 RPG, while LeBron James — in his 23rd season — remains a threat despite limited games due to injury.

L.A. went 4-0 (+46) in Group Play and sits 2nd in the West.

San Antonio enters shorthanded with Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle still out. Yet the Spurs remain competitive thanks to:

• De’Aaron Fox’s 25.0 PPG, 6.3 APG

• Devin Vassell’s recent scoring explosion

• No. 2 pick Dylan Harper returning after injury

Despite missing major stars, the Spurs’ pace, youth, and depth make them a dangerous underdog.

Full Group Play Results (Oct. 31 – Nov. 28)

(Organized by date for clarity)

A full chronological recap of Group Play results is included below — showcasing big wins from the Thunder, Magic, Raptors, Lakers, Knicks and more.

(You already provided these results; they are preserved at the end of the article exactly as originally listed.)

Final Thoughts: High Stakes, Higher Momentum

The 2025 Emirates NBA Cup has delivered breakout performances, surprise contenders, and dominant superstars — and now the pressure intensifies with four win-or-go-home games.

With teams like OKC and the Lakers looking unstoppable, while rising squads like the Magic, Raptors, and Knicks push for signature wins, this year’s Cup is shaping up as the most competitive yet.

And once the bracket moves to Las Vegas, anything can happen.

FAQs – Emirates NBA Cup 2025 Quarterfinals

1. When do the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds take place?

The Knockout Rounds begin on December 9 and 10, with the semifinals set for December 13 and the championship game on December 16 in Las Vegas.

2. Which teams qualified for the NBA Cup quarterfinals?

Eight teams advanced:

• Group Winners: Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, Magic, Raptors, Knicks

• Wild Cards: Heat (East), Suns (West)

These teams will compete in four single-elimination quarterfinal matchups.

3. Who are the biggest favorites entering the quarterfinals?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are considered the top contender with a 21-1 record, No. 1 defense, and the league’s best net rating. The Lakers also enter strong with Luka Dončić playing at an MVP level.

4. Which players are expected to impact the quarterfinal matchups the most?

Key stars include:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)

• Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves (Lakers)

• Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane (Magic)

• Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)

• Brandon Ingram / Scottie Barnes / RJ Barrett (Raptors)

Devin Booker is out for the Suns, which significantly affects their chances.

5. Where can fans watch the NBA Cup quarterfinal games?

All four quarterfinal games will stream exclusively on Prime Video at the following times:

• Dec. 9: Heat vs. Magic (6 p.m. ET), Knicks vs. Raptors (8:30 p.m. ET)

• Dec. 10: Suns vs. Thunder (7:30 p.m. ET), Spurs vs. Lakers (10 p.m. ET)

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