NBA In-Season Tournament Predictions: Who Wins The NBA Cup?

While I’m still not fully sold on the NBA Cup, it’s hard to ignore the excitement it brings to the early part of the season. Despite my reservations about the tournament, here are my predictions for the second year of the In-Season Tournament. Listed below is a quick recap of how the tournament's structure works.

Reminder! The knockout stage standings in the NBA In-Season Tournament are based on team performance in the group stage. Here’s how it works:

1. Group Winners: Each of the six groups (three per conference) has one winner, determined by the best win-loss record in group games. These six teams advance automatically to the knockout stage.

2. Wild Card Teams: Two additional teams (one from each conference) advance as wild cards. These are the teams with the best record among all non-group winners within their conference. If there’s a tie, it’s broken by point differential, then total points scored, and finally, a random drawing if needed.

3. Seeding for Knockout Matchups:

   • In each conference, the three group winners are seeded 1–3 based on their group stage records and any necessary tiebreakers (e.g., point differential).

   • The wild-card team is seeded 4th in each conference.

4. Quarterfinals:

   • In each conference, the matchups are: 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3.

   • These games are played at the higher-seeded team’s home arena.

Semifinals and Finals:

1. The winners from each conference’s quarterfinals meet in the semifinals, which are held at a neutral location in Las Vegas.

2. The winners of the semifinal games advance to the final to compete for the NBA Cup.

Western Conference Group Standings Predictions

Group A:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves

2. Sacramento Kings

3. Houston Rockets

4. Los Angeles Clippers

5. Portland Trailblazers

The Timberwolves should have an easy time this group, in my opinion. The Sacramento Kings could be a threat, but I'll take my chances with Minnesota.

Group B:

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (Wildcard)

3. Phoenix Suns

4. Utah Jazz

5. San Antonio Spurs

With injuries to Chet Holmgren and Kevin Durant, I think the Los Angeles Lakers find a way to win Group B in the West. James and Davis led to the Lakers to the in-season tournament title last season and I expect that same level of effort this season. Without Holmgren, I think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can lead the Thunder to a wildcard spot, which would make them a serious contender in the elimination round.

Group C:

1. Golden State Warriors

2. Denver Nuggets

3. Dallas Mavericks

4. Memphis Grizzlies

5. New Orleans Pelicans

This is by far the best group in the tournament and some of called it "The Group of Death". Despite the tough competition, I believe the Warriors find a way to escape. I anticipate that the Warriors' strong start to the season will carry over into the tournament carrying them into the knockout round.

Eastern Conference Group Standings Predictions

Group A:

1. New York Knicks

2. Philadelphia 76ers

3. Charlotte Hornets

4. Orlando Magic

5. Brooklyn Nets

As bad as the 76ers have been to start the year, I was tempted to pick them to win Group A over New York. With Joel Embiid's impending return from injury and suspension, along with the game against the Knicks taking place in in Philadelphia, I would not be shocked at all if the Sixers stole Group A from the Knicks. That said, I just have more faith in New York and Jalen Brunson in a key spot.

Group B:

1. Indiana Pacers

2. Miami Heat

3. Detroit Pistons

4. Milwaukee Bucks

5. Toronto Raptors

The Indiana Pacers took this tournament seriously last year and made it all the way to the Final. With the Heat and Bucks struggling to begin the year, I'll take Indiana to make it out of this group.

Group C:

1. Boston Celtics

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (Wildcard)

3. Chicago Bulls

4. Atlanta Hawks

5. Washington Wizards

The Cavaliers and Celtics have been the best teams in the East to start the season, so it’s hard to bet against them right now. Boston wins the group as I believe the C's win their matchup in Beantown, allowing the Cavaliers to secure the wildcard position in the knockout stage.

Knockout Seeds & Stage:

East:

1. Knicks

2. Celtics

3. Pacers

4. Cavaliers

West:

1. Timberwolves

2. Lakers

3. Warriors

4. Thunder

Quarter-Finals:

East

• 4. Cavaliers Def. 1. Knicks

• 2. Celtics Def. 3. Pacers

West

• 4. Thunder Def. 1. Timberwolves

• 2. Lakers Def. 3. Warriors

Semi-Finals:

East:

• 4. Cavaliers Def. 2. Celtics

West

• 2. Lakers Def. 4. Thunder

NBA Cup Final: Cleveland Cavaliers Beat Los Angeles Lakers

Now, wouldn't this be quite the story! No team is hotter in basketball right now than the Cleveland Cavaliers, and I think their play continues, leading them to an NBA Cup Championship where they will defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the In-Season Tournament final in Las Vegas. The Cavaliers have the youth, along with defensive and offensive firepower, to win a tournament like this. Even though LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers are always a threat in a one game winner take all spot, I think the Cavs' are simply the better team and will beat the Lakers in the championship game.