2025 NBA The Cup quarterfinals concluded Wednesday with the Western Conference in the half bracket. As expected, Oklahoma City Thunder made the work easier Phoenix Suns improve to 24-1 on the season and tie the series for the best 25-game start in league history. Later, San Antonio Spurs orchestrated a brilliant offensive play to upset Los Angeles Lakers.
On the Eastern Conference side of the bracket on Tuesday Orlando Magic came back from a 15–0 deficit to defeat their state rivals Miami Heatwhile the rise New York Knicks used a dominant second quarter to overtake Toronto Raptors and win for the eighth time in the last nine games.
The NBA Cup semifinals will take place on Saturday in Las Vegas:
- Knicks vs. Magic, 5:30 pm ET – Amazon Prime
- Spurs vs. Thunder, 9:00 pm ET – Amazon Prime
Before we continue with Cup play, let's take a look at the winners and losers of the quarter-finals:
Loser: Anyone who gets in Thunder's path.
The Thunder are the defending champions and entered Wednesday night with a 23-1 record, so there was no doubt about their status as the best team in the league. However, their loss to the Suns should have been demoralizing to the other 29 teams, especially those hoping to compete for the title.
It was the first time the Thunder had something on the line in one game since Game 7 of the Finals, and if that's what it looks like when they actually step on the gas, good luck to everyone else. Sure, the Suns were short on players, but the gap between the Thunder and the next best teams looks bigger than ever.
The Thunder have now won a franchise-record 16 games in a row, and their 24–1 start ranks as the best in NBA history during the 2015–16 season. Golden State Warriors. Their 49-point win on Wednesday was the biggest margin of victory in the league this season and was their fifth win by 30-plus points (a season high of 10).
If you need further proof of their dominance, check out these statistics courtesy of Ben Golliver:
Winner: Stephon Castle
Stephon Castle was almost unanimously voted Rookie of the Year last season, but in some cases he was dismissed as simply the best of a bunch of bad options. But while his class may not be among the honors, Castle has proven this season that he's not a charity case. His attempt on Wednesday night to take Spurs to the semi-finals was his latest testament.
Castle, who only recently returned from a hip flexor injury that sidelined him for more than three weeks, finished with a season-high 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. He was all over the place on both sides of the ball and joined Tim Duncan and Victor Wembanyama as the only Spurs players with a 30/10/5 game aged 21 or younger.
Wembanyama and No. 2 pick Dylan Harper rightfully get so much attention, but Castle's performance against the Lakers was a powerful reminder that he is also a big part of the Spurs' future.
Loser: Lakers defense
The Lakers entered Wednesday night's quarterfinals ranked 21st in the league in defense (116.2 defensive rating). That figure will only look worse after their absence against Spurs.
The Spurs scored 39 points in the first quarter and never looked back. They broke the 30-point mark in each of the first three quarters (they only managed 28 points in the fourth) and scored 132 points in their fourth-highest scoring game of the season. San Antonio shot 50% from the field, made 17 3-pointers, got to the line on 36 free throws (they made 29) and turned the ball over just 10 times.
The Spurs could do whatever they wanted all night. The Lakers' perimeter players didn't offer much resistance during their attacks, and even less when they went into transition. They scored 27 fast-break points, including two late in the first half on remarkable possession. Harrison Barnes got a no contest dunk because the Lakers stopped playing for some reason.
The Lakers have an incredible offense, and so far Luka Doncic LeBron James And Austin Reeves everyone is healthy, they are going to win a lot of games. But to ultimately compete for the Western Conference crown, they will have to find a way to stop. It's worth noting that they are the only team in the bottom third of the league in defensive rating with a winning record.
Winner: Knicks
The Knicks have largely flown under the radar this season, partly because they got off to a bad start, but largely because there were other, more interesting stories to tell. Over the past few weeks, however, the Knicks have begun to find their form.
The Knicks and Jalen Brunson send a message to the East as they advance to the NBA Cup semifinals
Jack Maloney
They have won eight of their last nine games to improve to 17-7 and move within two games of Detroit Pistons for first place in the Eastern Conference. Tuesday's big win over the Raptors was a reminder of why they are currently the favorites in the Eastern Conference (+270, per Caesar), despite second place in the standings.
The semifinals in Las Vegas will be a chance for the Knicks to step into the spotlight for perhaps the first time all season and ensure they are no longer ignored. And while the NBA Cup obviously isn't nearly as important as the Finals, the competition gives a franchise starved for success an opportunity to lift the trophy.
The magic has given up Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony2025 first round draft pick (Jan Hansen), three unprotected first-round picks (2026, 2028, 2030) and a trade of 2029 first-round picks (top two protected) to acquire Desmond Bane from Memphis Grizzlies in the off-season.
It was a huge price to pay, especially for a non-superstar, and when Bane and Magic got off to a bad start this season, Grizzlies fans took victory laps. As it turned out, Bane simply needed time to acclimatize to his new city and teammates.
Bain has been very good for a few weeks, but he must have been pleased to have a big night in an exhibition game in front of a national audience. There's no better way to remind everyone that you're on the verge of an All-Star game than to score 37 points (14 of 24 from the field, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range) and have six rebounds and five assists in the comeback win.
During the Magic's 8-3 hot streak, Bane is averaging 22.2 points on 46/38.7/96 shooting, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists.
Grayson Allen has gotten off to a great start for the Suns this season, but has struggled since returning from a quad injury that sidelined him for just over two weeks. He did not return to duty on Wednesday.
Not only did Allen finish with 10 points on 3-of-9 from the field in a 49-point loss to the Suns (the worst loss in team history), but he was ejected in the third quarter after dunking the ball. Chet Holmgren to the ground.
The play was revised and upgraded to Flagrant 2, which, to be honest, seemed a little harsh to Allen. Regardless, it was a completely unnecessary moment that will only further tarnish Allen's reputation.
