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• Emirates NBA Cup 101: rules, format and how it works >

The group play phase of the Emirates NBA Cup starts on Tuesday, November 12. Which eight teams will advance to the knockout round?

Steve Aschbrander

In the East:

• Knicks (East A)
• Heat (East B)
• Celts (East C)
• Cavaliers (Wild Card from East A)

The NBA Cup was something the Celtics didn’t win last season, and I think they’ll make up for that omission this time around. Also use Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown as MVP. In the past, I’ve had reservations about how seriously Miami takes the regular season, but this tournament should now coincide with some urgency. Knicks are grinding, Cavs have momentum.

In the West:

• Timber wolves (West A)
• Sunbathing (West B)
• Outsiders (West C)
• Warriors (Wild Card from West C)

I would have gone with OKC to move on if not for Chet Holmgren’s (ouch!) pelvic fracture suffered on Sunday. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards is ripe for the stage in Las Vegas and the Suns are the cream of the crop. Group C is rough, but imagine the NBA’s joy in getting Luka Dončić and Stephen Curry to the knockout round.

Brian Martin

In the East:

• Knicks (East A)
• Pacers (East B)
• Celts (East C)
• Cavaliers (Wild Card from East C)

Cleveland will eventually lose a game, and I see one coming on Nov. 19 in Boston, giving the Celtics a group advantage and forcing the Cavs into the Wild Card. Injuries to the Magic and Sixers have paved the way for New York in East A, while Indy is the only team in East B with a .500 mark and has won four of the last six entering Group Play.

In the West:

• Timber wolves (West A)
• Sunbathing (West B)
• Warriors (West C)
• Lakers (Wild Card from West B)

West A (four teams at 6-4 through 10 games) and West C (three teams in the West’s top five, plus the defending West champions) will likely beat each other up in Group Play and the Wild Card odds of one second of damage. -location team. West B opens due to injuries. Kevin Durant (calf) should return during group play for Phoenix while Chet Holmgren (hip) is out for OKC, opening the door for the defending Cup champions to grab a Wild Card.

Shaun Powell

In the East:

• Knicks (East A)
• Heat (East B)
• Celts (East C)
• Nets (Wild Card from East A)

Injuries could impact the outcome in the East, where the preseason-favored Sixers and Bucks have fallen short (injuries to Joel Embiid and Khris Middleton, respectively), although a reset could happen in both places before Group Play is over. The defending NBA champion Celtics face a battle against the feisty Cavs in Group C, while the hungry and surprising Nets look to inject some legitimacy into their season with an advancement to the knockout round.

In the West:

• Timber wolves (West A)
• Thunder (West B)
• Gold nuggets (West C)
• Warriors (Wildcard from West C)

All eyes are on the West C, the most competitive of all the groups. The Nuggets have recovered from an opening week stumble, the Mavericks are the defending West champs, the Warriors are off to a solid start and Memphis could be in trouble (if Ja Morant returns from his hip problem soon). Speaking of injuries, Kevin Durant’s calf injury comes at a risky time for the Suns and their chances of tripping OKC in Group B.

Johannes Schumann

In the East:

• Knicks (East A)
• Pacers (East B)
• Celts (East C)
• Cavaliers (Wildcard from East C)

The Pacers haven’t been great, but East B has easily been the weakest group in the league so far. That’s followed by East A, which the Knicks should win with Magic star Paolo Banchero (torn oblique) out. East C will come down to the winner of Cavs-Celtics (the game is next Tuesday in Boston), while the other will likely build a comfortable points margin against Atlanta, Chicago and Washington

In the West:

• Timber wolves (West A)
• Sunbathing (West B)
• Gold nuggets (West C)
• Warriors (Wildcard from West C)

Despite injuries to Kevin Durant and Chet Holmgren, the Suns-Thunder winner should have the edge in West B on Friday. The Wolves are starting to get some stops and should win Group A, while Denver will have its two toughest Group C games – vs. Dallas and Golden State – at home. There is no clear favorite for the wild card, but the Warriors have had a great start to the season