Wemby vs. Steph, Part 2.
After their showdown on Wednesday night, we get the sequel tonight in San Antonio – this time with NBA Cup implications.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Cup Night 3: What’s on the line for tonight’s nine-game slate in Group Play.
We Meet Again: Two days after showdown, Spurs & Dubs clash in Cup play on Prime
New-Look Rivals: Knicks & Heat may be old foes, but both are running new offenses
NBA Cup on League Pass: Clutch Pistons, Sixers clash again amid 7 more Cup tilts
Thursday’s Best: Jalen Johnson’s historic triple-double; Hawks, Suns, Raptors stay hot
BUT FIRST … ⏰
The Emirates NBA Cup heats up with nine Group Play games on tap tonight, headlined by a Prime Video doubleheader.
The action tips off in NYC when the Knicks and Heat renew their rivalry (7 ET | Tap To Watch), followed by the Spurs and Warriors meeting for the second time in three days (9:30 ET | Tap To Watch).
1. WHAT’S AT STAKE ENTERING NBA CUP NIGHT 3
The Emirates NBA Cup was designed to bring high-stakes games to the early months of the NBA season.
And tonight, those stakes go up a notch.
The nine-game slate features nine unbeaten teams looking for a 2-0 start facing nine teams that lost their opener and are looking for their first win in Group Play.
- Heat (1-0) at Knicks (0-1): 7 ET, Prime Video (East C)
- Nets (0-1) at Magic (1-0): 7 ET, LP (East B)
- Sixers (0-1) at Pistons (1-0): 7:30 ET, LP (East B)
- Blazers (1-0) at Rockets (0-1): 8 ET, LP (West C)
- Hornets (0-1) at Bucks (1-0): 8 ET, LP (East C)
- Kings (0-1) at Wolves (1-0): 8 ET, LP (West A)
- Lakers (1-0) at Pelicans (0-1): 8 ET, LP (West B)
- Clippers (1-0) at Mavericks (0-1): 8:30 ET, LP (West B)
- Warriors (0-1) at Spurs (1-0): 9:30 ET, Prime Video (West C)
What makes tonight’s matchups so important?
- In the first two years of this in-season competition, no teams with two losses in Group Play have advanced to the Knockout Rounds
- That raises the importance for the Knicks, Nets, Sixers, Rockets, Hornets, Kings, Pelicans, Mavs and Warriors to avoid an 0-2 start
- Meanwhile, half of the teams that have advanced to the Knockouts by winning their group, did so without a loss in Group Play
- That adds incentive for the Heat, Magic, Pistons, Blazers, Bucks, Wolves, Lakers, Clippers and Spurs to stay at the top of their respective groups and join the Raptors at 2-0 as Group Play hits its midpoint
Before we dive into tonight’s matchups in the sections below, let’s look at some of this year’s most electric Group Play performances so far.
- Luka Dončić was scary good on Halloween night, dropping 44 points, 12 boards, six dimes and six 3s in L.A.’s win over Memphis
- Giannis Antetokounmpo helped Milwaukee stay unbeaten all-time in Group Play (9-0) with a near triple-double (41 pts, 15 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk) in a win over the Bulls to open the Bucks’ Cup championship defense
- Anthony Edwards dropped 37 points with seven 3s, while Julius Randle added the only triple-double of the 2025 Cup so far (19 pts, 10 reb, 12 ast) in Minnesota’s win over Utah
The players with the top three scoring games of the Cup so far are all aiming to improve to 2-0 tonight.
2. PRIME PREVIEW: REMATCH BETWEEN SPURS & WARRIORS
Four rings. 11 All-NBA selections. 17 seasons.
On Wednesday, an all-time legend printed yet another classic performance, with Steph Curry scoring 46 to lead the Warriors over the Spurs.
“When you have the privilege of watching Steph for 11-plus years, like I have, you get used to this,” said coach Steve Kerr. “He’s the sun in our solar system.”
Now comes an opportunity to do it all over again, but this time, with NBA Cup implications.
The Spurs host the Warriors tonight (9:30 ET, Prime Video) in a rematch of that Wednesday meeting. Curry’s season-best showing in that victory was just the tip of an impressive iceberg for multiple stars involved.
- Appetizer: Victor Wembanyama (31 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists) and Stephon Castle (23, 10, 10) became the first-ever Spurs duo to produce triple-doubles in the same game
- Entree: Curry, meanwhile, dropped 46 points on 13-for-25 shooting, slicing and dicing his way through a San Antonio defense that ranks 6th with a 111.4 defensive rating
- Dessert: In the 3rd quarter, the veteran guard pitched in 22 points, extending his record for most 20-point quarters since 1997-98 (43, followed by Kobe Bryant’s 36)
Wembanyama and Curry represent two different eras, but are cut from the same cloth. Each of them is a bona fide game-breaker anytime they take the court.
This week has offered multiple case studies.
- Be Like Mike: The Warriors guard holds the record for 3-point field goals, and is one shy of tying Michael Jordan (44) for the most 40-point games after turning 30
- Two-Way Trailblazer: At 21 years old, the Spurs center became the 3rd-youngest player to tally 30/15/10 on Monday, but nobody had ever done so with six 3s and five blocks
- Presence Felt: Golden State’s OffRtg jumps from 107.8 to 116.8 with Curry on the floor, while the DefRtg for San Antonio improves to 104.9 from 117.9 when Wembanyma is in
But the parallels don’t end there for these familiar foes of the West. Last season, as the trade deadline approached, their teams altered the league’s landscape with some major moves.
- Big Swing: The Spurs acquired De’Aaron Fox from the Kings, and since making his season debut Nov. 8, he’s averaged 19.3 points on 52.4% shooting through three games
- You’ve Been Served: Jimmy Butler III joined the Warriors from the Heat, and on Wednesday, had his second-most points all season with 28 on a 5-for-7 clip from deep
3. PRIME PREVIEW: LONGTIME RIVALS FEATURE NEW-LOOK OFFENSES
A new chapter of a classic NBA rivalry will be written in the opening game of tonight’s Prime Video NBA Cup doubleheader as the Knicks host the Heat (7 ET).
- Been Here Before: New York holds a 90-86 advantage in head-to-head matchups (regular season & Playoffs), including a 1-0 edge in NBA Cup Group Play
- Flashback: On Nov. 24, 2023, the Knicks rallied from 21 down to edge out the Heat 100-98 at MSG on their way to earning the East wildcard in the inaugural in-season tourney
This time around, expect to see more points from both teams as they reap the rewards of repolished offenses this season.
- Miami’s 1,497 total points are the most through 12 games in franchise history
- New York’s 120.1 offensive rating ranks 3rd in the league, and its 125.1 rating over the past six games (5-1) ranks 2nd
Drive. Cut. Rotate. Watch the Heat offense move like a wheel to free up open shooters off drives to the basket.
Same Coach, New Philosophy: After finishing in the bottom six in offense the past two seasons, Erik Spoelstra and the Heat have installed a new scheme that moves away from pick-and-roll and instead centers around drives (60.3, 2nd in NBA), passing (30.4 apg, 1st) and pace (106.70, 1st).
The Result: A league-high-tying four players averaging 17+ points – Norman Powell (career-high 24.8 ppg, 46.6% 3P), Bam Adebayo (19.9 ppg, highest since 2022-23), Andrew Wiggins (17.8 ppg, career-high 60.4% eFG) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (career-highs 17 ppg & 54.4% FG) – while all averaging over 2.5 assists.
Watch Karl-Anthony Towns operate from the top of the key as either a driver ⬆️ or a playmaker with handoffs ⬇️
New Coach, Same Philosophy: Mike Brown is in his first month in NYC, but is utilizing the same offensive philosophy that helped him earn Coach of the Year honors in Sacramento two seasons ago – emphasizing ball and player movement, and a league-high 8.9 ppg off handoffs.
- Getting Downhill: OG Anunoby (17.1 ppg) and Mikal Bridges (15.6 ppg) have been the primary scorers off handoffs, getting to the basket for high-percentage looks
- New Challenge: With leading scorer Jalen Brunson (28 ppg) out for tonight’s game (ankle), the Knicks will lean more on Towns (20.2 ppg) and rely on their depth to keep up with the Heat’s offense
4. LEAGUE PASS: SIXERS-PISTONS REMATCH LEADS 7 MORE CUP GAMES
When Detroit and Philly met just five nights ago, they showcased suspense and intensity befitting an NBA Cup faceoff.
Two East contenders led by two of the NBA’s brightest young star guards played down to the final second, with Detroit maintaining its win streak that’s since stretched to eight in a row.
Tonight (7:30 ET, League Pass), this budding rivalry runs it back with the added weight of NBA Cup Group Play.
Off to its best start since 2005-06, first-place Detroit (10-2) seeks a league-best 9th straight win. Along the way, Detroit is 1-0 in Cup play, while Philly enters 0-1 after losing to Boston on the season’s first Cup Night.
- Last Time Out: Cade Cunningham got the better of Tyrese Maxey (33 pts), nabbing 24 of his 26 points in the 2nd half of a 111-108 finish
It was nothing new for two of the NBA’s most clutch teams and players. Detroit leads the league with 7 clutch wins, while Philly is tied with San Antonio for second-most (6).
- Thriving On Edge: Philly has had 9 of its 11 games end in clutch situations, managing a 6-3 record. Their +3.9 point differential ranks 3rd among all teams in clutch time
- Escaping Pressure: While excelling in the clutch, Detroit has the 6th highest point differential at +5.8 ppg, showing how they motor out of close games late
- Big Heroes: Cunningham and Maxey join SGA (56 total pts) as the top-3 clutch points scorers (Maxey: 35 pts; Cunningham: 33 pts)
- Most Valuable: Through points scored and created with assists, these similar stars contribute 44% of their teams’ overall offensive output per game (Maxey: 44.9%, Cunningham: 44.2%)
Though statistically similar, the two approach the game differently. Philly likes to isolate Maxey’s athleticism, through transition buckets (8.0 ppg, top-3) and constant motion. The bigger Cunningham gets featured in true Motor City style: pick-and-rolls, post-ups and contact opportunities.
This difference in style was perfectly captured in a dunk exchange between the two in the final two minutes of their last meeting.
With Cunningham and Jalen Duren questionable tonight, Detroit continues to call on its depth. Paul Reed (28 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast, 4 stl) and Daniss Jenkins (18 pts, 12 ast, 2 stl) have filled in with a combined eight career-highs this week.
Six more Group Play matchups tip off tonight, including the West’s best offense in Houston (123.1 OffRtg) hosting a Portland defense ranked 4th with 10.1 steals per game (8 ET | West C).
5. JALEN JOHNSON MAKES HISTORY; HAWKS, RAPTORS, SUNS STAY HOT
Last season, Jalen Johnson’s breakthrough (18.9 ppg, 10 rpg, 5 apg) was cut short by a season-ending shoulder injury after just 36 games.
With his torn left labrum healed, Johnson is starting the 2025-26 season even better than where he left off – including a career-best performance on Thursday night in Utah.
Hawks 132, Jazz 122: Johnson stuffed the stat sheet (31 pts, 18 reb 14 ast, 7 stl – all career-highs) for his third career triple-double to lead the Hawks to their fourth straight win and sixth road win of the season (tied with OKC for league high). | Recap
- One Of One: Johnson is the first player ever to record at least 31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists and seven steals in a game since steals began being tracked in 1973-74, and is the first Hawk ever to post a 30-15-10 game
- One Of Two: Johnson joins Nikola Jokić as the only players since 2000 to post a 30-15-10-5 steal game
More Career Nights: Johnson was joined by teammate Onyeka Okongwu, who put up career highs of 32 points and eight 3s along with 11 boards in the win, while Jazz rookie Ace Bailey had the best scoring game (21 pts, 4 3pm) of his young career.
Markkanen Delivers: Lauri Markkanen (40 pts, 7 reb, 6 3pm) posted his fifth 40+ point game with the Jazz. His 351 total points through Utah’s first 12 games of the season are the most by a Jazz player since Karl Malone (354) in 1992-93.
Raptors 126, Cavs 113: Strong 1st-half shooting from deep (9 3pm, 56.3 3P%) built Toronto a halftime lead it never surrendered, as Scottie Barnes (28 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast, 5 blk) led three 20+ point Raptors scorers. | Recap
- Triple Attack: Immanuel Quickley (25 pts, 6 ast, 5-of-7 3pm) and Jakob Poeltl (20 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl) shined alongside Barnes
- Bright Spots: Donovan Mitchell (31 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast, 2 blk) paced the Cavs, while Nae’Qwan Tomlin scored 14 of a season-high 18 points in the 2nd half
- Ring The Bell: A heartwarming moment at Rocket Arena as a young Cavs fan felt the love after beating cancer earlier in the day… on his birthday
Suns 133, Pacers 88: Devin Booker (33 pts, 7 ast) and Dillon Brooks (32 pts, 3 3pm) combined for 65 points as Phoenix rolled to its fifth straight victory, while handing Indiana its sixth straight loss. | Recap
- Streak Keys: The Suns rank in the top five in both offensive (5th, 124.2) and defensive (3rd, 105.7) efficiency over this weeklong run
- The offense is powered by a trio of 20+ ppg scorers in Booker (24.6), Grayson Allen (21.8) and Brooks (21.0), while the defense has held opponents to a league-low 103.0 ppg
