The Rockets have emerged as the second team to advance to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, accomplishing this with an overtime win against Minnesota on Tuesday night.
This victory improved Houston’s NBA Cup standing to 3-0, solidifying their place at the top of West Group A. The Rockets previously secured wins against the Clippers and Trail Blazers, showcasing an impressive +49 point differential across these three contests. They stand in a strong position to earn the top seed in the Western Conference knockout round with an upcoming win against Sacramento next Tuesday.
The Rockets join the 3-0 Warriors as the only teams that have progressed to the knockout stage of this season’s in-season tournament. This leaves two remaining slots open in the West— the Suns, Lakers, and Spurs (all sporting 2-1 records), plus the Thunder (1-1), all still in contention for Group B, while the Mavericks (2-1 with a +41 point differential) are viewed as formidable contenders for the wild card spot.
In the East, all four quarterfinal slots remain up for grabs. Following their victory in Miami on Tuesday, the Bucks became the first Eastern Conference team to achieve a 3-0 record in the NBA Cup, yet their group remains uncertain with the Pistons holding a 2-0 record. The Bucks and Pistons are set to clash next Tuesday.
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