How they got here: Toronto advanced as the No. 2 seed with a 4-0 record in NBA Cup play, but it had clinched its spot a week ago with a win over Washington. New York secured its spot by beating Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee on Friday and clinching Group B, thanks to some big Duece McBride 3-pointers helping the team pull away in the fourth.

THE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS ARE SET 🏆 Quarterfinals will take place on Tuesday, 12/9 and Wednesday, 12/10 on Prime. WHO WILL WIN the @emirates NBA Cup? pic.twitter.com/qssdDeDlrY

Six of the eight spots in the 2025 NBA Cup knockout stage will be determined Friday night as group play wraps up in the league's third annual in-season tournament. The Lakers and Raptors are the only two teams to have clinched their groups so far, and 12 teams are still alive for the remaining spots in the eight-team knockout bracket.

Two regular season games have been added to the Detroit Pistons' schedule, following their NBA Cup defeat to the Orlando Magic on Friday, Nov. 28.

This is the other MVP race where established stars merely confirm their existence and rising stars get a chance to announce their arrival. A few years ago, Tyrese Haliburton defined the latter when he pulled the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Cup title game, then last summer went to the NBA Finals.

After failing to advance in the NBA cup, the Atlanta Hawks have had two games added to their schedule. The Hawks will travel to Detroit to face the Pistons on