NBA Cup Primer: What's at stake on the last night of group play?

When the NBA implemented an in-season tournament last year, it was with the promise of raising interest during the regular season.

It may be premature to label that promise kept just two years into the experiment, but the Emirates NBA Cup has, to its credit, delivered intrigue through an otherwise mundane part of the schedule.

When tournament group play concludes with an 11-game slate on Tuesday, almost all of those contests (to varying degrees) will play a role in determining which teams advance to the knockout round. Meaningful basketball in December — bravo commissioner Adam Silver.

While the Atlanta Hawks (East Group C), Houston Rockets (West Group A) and Golden State Warriors (West Group C) have already clinched their respective groups, there are still five unclaimed spots — three group winners and one wild card from each conference — up for grabs on Tuesday.

So, with a chance to play for hardware, cash prizes and "championship" glory on the line, here is what's at stake on the last night of NBA Cup of group play.

Win and you're in

The Orlando Magic and New York Knicks in East Group A, and the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons in Group B, all enter the night with a perfect 3-0 tournament record.

Call it coincidence or the basketball gods at work, but the Magic and Knicks face each other on Tuesday, as do the Bucks and Pistons. Meaning that whichever teams win will punch their ticket to the next round.

The simplest scenario with the highest stakes for the busy slate.

Orlando has been one of the hottest teams, despite losing franchise star Paolo Banchero on Oct. 30 due to a torn oblique. His absence appears to have fuelled the Magic, who are 12-5 since losing him, winning 12 of their last 13 and currently riding a six-game win streak. They've also steamrolled opponents through group play, entering Tuesday with the highest point differential of any team.

And if a "win and you're in" scenario isn't enough intrigue, revel in the fact that it'll be a matchup between New York's No. 1-ranked offence and Orlando's No. 3-ranked defence.

The Bucks and Pistons have been two of the more surprising squads this year and for largely different reasons.

Milwaukee crawled out the gates at 2-8, quickly raising chemistry concerns between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard while adding heat to coach Doc Rivers' seat. Thankfully for Bucks fans, the team turned it around just in time for the start of group play. Since beating the Toronto Raptors on the first "Cup Night" of the season, Milwaukee is 8-1 and enters Tuesday in the midst of a six-game win streak.

Meanwhile, Detroit is off to a solid start relative to expectations. A 9-13 record may not be worth writing home about but it's also nothing to scoff at considering the Pistons didn't win their ninth game last season until early March. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has turned his team into a top-half of the league defence, which has kept them undefeated through group play.

If any team can attest to the fact that the NBA Cup provides value to cities, and fanbases, that otherwise wouldn't experience playoff-like atmospheres, it's Detroit. A cellar dweller for half a decade now — winning 20 or fewer games each of the last five seasons — this might be the Pistons' most important game since the 2019 playoffs.

West Group B Gauntlet

The Western Conference has typically always been, and remains, a bloodbath that sees teams separated by the slimmest margins. West Group B is indicative of that.

Aside from the 0-3 Utah Jazz, the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns are all tied at 2-1 entering Tuesday. Point differential won't make things any easier as just five points separate the three squads.

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs have the most control over their destiny, however, as a win means advancing irrespective of what else happens.

And although a head-to-head matchup against Kevin Durant and the Suns won't be a walk in the park, San Antonio has momentum heading in. The Spurs are 7-3 in their last 10 games while the Suns have been reeling, winning just three of their last 10.

Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the West-leading Thunder will need some help in order to advance. They'll not only need to beat the Jazz — who lost their first three group-stage games by a combined 27 points and are 4-16 on the year — but also need the Spurs to lose.

Phoenix's path to winning Group B is through a win over San Antonio and an Oklahoma City loss.

Wild-card candidates

With so many teams knotted up heading into the final night of group play it's inevitable that tiebreakers will be involved to determine the two wild-card spots.

Eight squads in the West and three in the East have a path to a wild-card spot entering Tuesday ... buckle up folks.

Determining wild-card teams in the NBA Cup — after group winners have been confirmed — comes down to point differential as the first tiebreaker. As things stand, the Pistons (plus-28) and Dallas Mavericks (plus-41) hold those spots in the East and West.

Things can change quickly however as the Magic (plus-67) would be all but guaranteed a wild-card spot should they fail to clinch East Group A following a loss to the Knicks on Tuesday. Orlando would have to lose by 37 points or more to fall out of advancing.

And although the Mavericks are sitting pretty, they'll be taking on a streaking Memphis Grizzlies and keeping their point differential as high as it's been will be a tall task. Memphis is a top-five squad on both ends of the floor this season and has won six consecutive games.

Adding to the intrigue, there are plenty of teams entering the night with the knowledge they can't just win but have to blow out their opponents for a chance at advancing. Like the Los Angeles Clippers and Grizzlies, who need to win by at least 24, and get some help, if they want to earn a spot.

Other squads know a loss won't be backbreaking so long as they limit the bleeding. For instance, the Thunder and Mavericks could still get in if they don't lose by 24 or more and other outcomes go their way.

We're talking about clinching scenarios, point differential and tiebreakers in December! That's the magic of the NBA Cup.

Group-play schedule, Dec. 3 (all times ET)

Philadelphia 76ers at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m.
Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons, 7 p.m.
Orlando Magic at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m.
Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m.
Memphis Grizzlies at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns, 9 p.m.
Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m.
Houston Rockets at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m.
Portland Trail Blazers at LA Clippers, 10:30 p.m.