2024 NBA Cup: Predictions and odds for quarterfinals, knockout rounds

The quarterfinals for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup begin Tuesday, and the knockout rounds for the league’s second in-season tournament set up nicely for an intriguing set of games that will be featured during the next week.

There are big names, recent NBA champions and promising contenders still left in the bracket in the Eastern and Western Conferences, with more than $500,000 per player and a trip to Las Vegas for the semifinals and championship games at stake.

In the East side of the quarterfinals, Franz Wagner and the Orlando Magic visit Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to get the knockout round action started Tuesday. Then the Atlanta Hawks play the New York Knicks on Wednesday in a matchup that will also pit Trae Young against Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden once more.

The West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder have a playoff rematch against the defending conference champion Dallas Mavericks in Tuesday’s late quarterfinal game and the surprising Houston Rockets host the Golden State Warriors to close out knockout round action Wednesday night.

There’s no telling what team might emerge with a single-elimination format. Last year, the Los Angeles Lakers won the first NBA Cup and didn’t make it out of the first round of the NBA playoffs. Here’s what else to know about the NBA Cup, including odds, predictions and a schedule for how to watch the quarterfinals and the rest of the tournament.

2024 NBA Cup quarterfinals

All times ET

Wednesday, Dec. 10:

Orlando Magic at Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m. on TNT
Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m. on TNT

Thursday, Dec. 11:

Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks, 7 p.m. on ESPN
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets, 9:30 p.m. on TNT

Stream NBA Cup games with Sling TV

2024 NBA Cup championship odds

Odds as of Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. ET, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

Oklahoma City Thunder (+280)
New York Knicks (+310)
Milwaukee Bucks (+450)
Houston Rockets (+700)
Dallas Mavericks (+750)
Golden State Warriors (+850)
Atlanta Hawks (+2300)
Orlando Magic (+2400)

2024 NBA Cup predictions

Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

Quarterfinals: Bucks over Magic; Thunder over Mavericks; Knicks over Hawks; Rockets over Warriors
Semifinals: Thunder over Rockets; Bucks over Knicks
Championship: Thunder over Bucks

Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY Sports

Quarterfinals: Bucks over Magic; Mavericks over Thunder; Knicks over Hawks; Warriors over Rockets
Semifinals: Mavericks over Warriors; Knicks over Bucks
Championship: Knicks over Mavericks

The Athletic

Quarterfinals: Bucks over Magic; Mavericks over Thunder; Knicks over Hawks; Warriors over Rockets
Semifinals: Warriors over Mavericks; Knicks over Bucks
Championship: Knicks over Warriors

Bleacher Report

Quarterfinals: Bucks over Magic; Thunder over Mavericks; Hawks over Knicks; Rockets over Warriors
Semifinals: Thunder over Rockets; Hawks over Bucks
Championship: Thunder over Hawks

Sporting News

Quarterfinals: Bucks over Magic; Thunder over Mavericks; Hawks over Knicks; Warriors over Rockets
Semifinals: Thunder over Warriors; Hawks over Bucks
Championship: Thunder over Hawks

2024 NBA Cup bracket, schedule

Semifinals

Saturday, Dec. 14 in Las Vegas

Semifinals 1: TBD vs. TBD, 4:30 p.m. on TNT
Semifinals 2: TBD vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m. on ABC

*Semifinals will be Bucks/Magic vs. Knicks/Hawks and Thunder/Mavericks vs. Rockets/Warriors.

Championship game

Tuesday, Dec. 17 in Las Vegas:

Championship: TBD vs. TBD, 8:30 p.m. on ABC

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