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Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from Dec. 3

Stay in the know on tonight's Emirates NBA Cup action as we keep you updated with the latest news and happenings around the league.

NBA.com Staff

🏆The final night of 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Group Play🏆

The Hawks, Rockets, and Warriors have all already punched their ticket to the Knockout Rounds, but there is still much to be decided across the Association tonight. Five spots in the next round remain up for grabs and eight games have Knockout Round implications.

  • East B: Bucks 128, Pistons 107 (Final)
  • East C: Wizards 87, Cavaliers 118 (Final)
  • East A: 76ers 110, Hornets 104 (Final)
  • East B: Pacers 111, Raptors 122 (Final)
  • East A: Magic 106, Knicks 121 (Final)
  • West B: Jazz 106, Thunder 133 (Final)
  • West C: Grizzlies 116, Mavericks 121 (Final)
  • West B: Spurs 93, Suns 104 (Final)
  • West A: Rockets 111, Kings 120 (Final)
  • West C: Warriors 115, Nuggets 119 (Final)
  • West A: Trail Blazers 105, Clippers 127 (Final)

Check out our live Emirates NBA Cup standings to help keep yourself informed about who is in and who is out as tonight’s action unfolds.

📝Top stories of the night📝

  • Emirates NBA Cup Group Play is over, and the Knockout Rounds are set. 
  • The Bucks won their seventh game in a row, beating the Pistons, to finish 4-0 in Group Play and take the East B bracket. Not only that, but their 21-point victory helped them seal the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference of Emirates NBA Cup play. 
  • The Knicks won their third straight, getting the best of Orlando, to finish 4-0 in Group Play, securing the East A bracket. They’ll be the No. 2 seed in the East. As a result of these finishes, the Hawks ended up with the No. 3 seed, and Orlando secured the No. 4 spot. 
  • The Spurs needed a win to clinch the West B bracket but fell to the Suns, which opened the door for the Thunder to advance after they defeated the Jazz. Due to their big win, and losses by the Rockets and Warriors, Oklahoma City secured the No. 1 seed in the West, dropping Houston and Golden State to No. 2 and No. 3 respectively. 
  • The Mavericks pulled off a big comeback against the Grizzlies, outsourcing them 18-5 down the stretch to secure the Wild Card spot in the West.

Quarterfinal brackets for the Emirates NBA Cup: 

(4) Mavericks at (1) Thunder – Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 9:30 ET on TNT.

(3) Warriors at (2) Rockets – Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 9:30 ET on TNT

(4) Magic at (1) Bucks – Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 7 ET on TNT

(3) Hawks at (2) Knicks – Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 ET on TNT

⭐🌟Top performers🌟⭐

  • Nikola Jokić: 38 points (14-24 FG), 10 rebounds, six assists, and five steals. 
  • Luka Dončić: 37 points (11-22 FG, 5-9 3PT), 12 assists, four rebounds, and four steals. 
  • Scottie Barnes: 35 points (13-20 FG, 3-7 3PT), six rebounds, and nine assists.

Brackets are set

Time to fill yours out.

Clutch block seals W

Jokić gets the block as Kuminga tries to get to the rim, aiding the Nuggets in holding on for a 119-115 win over the Warriors.

Nikola posted another massive stat line, with 38 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and five steals. With the loss, the Warriors fall to 3-1 in Group Play and to the No. 3 seed in the West for the Emirates NBA Cup.

Fox has lift off🚀

De’Aaron Fox gets way up off the feed from DeMar DeRozan and finishes the alley-oop strong for two of his 22 points on the way to a Kings victory over the Rockets, 120-111.

🚨To 17th at the buzzer🚨

Harden nails a three at the buzzer to end the third quarter to surpass Paul Pierce, and move up to 17th on the all-time NBA scoring list. He’s now just 98 points shy of surpassing Tim Duncan for 16th.

📜Making history📜

Harden knocks down a three giving him 20 points on the night and moving him past John Havlicek for 18th all-time on the NBA scoring list. Next up is Paul Pierce, who he could still surpass tonight.

💥Thunder dunk💥

Jackson-Davis gets the steal and takes it all the way to the rim with a big-time throwdown. The Warriors currently hold a 10-point lead nearing the halfway point of the fourth quarter.

A Golden State victory could earn them the top seed in the West going into the Knockout Rounds, if the Rockets, who are trailing, lose to the Kings.

🧐Coming into focus🔎

The Emirates NBA Cup field is starting to officially fill out, but the West Wild Card spot is still up for grabs. The Mavericks, who finished 3-1 in Group Play, are in the driver’s seat there with a +46 point differential. The only team that can catch them is the Trail Blazers, who currently are down five to the Clippers. Since Portland is currently sitting at a -10 point differential, they would need a huge second half to have any chance of moving on.

🔁Throws it down in reverse🔁

Jamal Murray goes baseline and under the rim before launching up for the reverse slam.

The Nuggets, who were eliminated from Group Play with Dallas’ win have a 72-71 lead over the Warriors halfway through the third.

Suns beat Spurs, Thunder win West B

Phoenix pulled out a 104-93 victory over the Spurs in the West B bracket eliminating San Antonio, but the Thunder held the tiebreaker with both teams finishing 3-1, so it’ll be Oklahoma City advancing to the Knockouts round.

Mavericks go on a run🐎

Dallas exploded in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Grizzlies 39-21, to earn a 121-116 victory over Memphis. Spencer Dinwiddie was clutch down the stretch nailing back-to-back threes. First to give Dallas the lead, and the second to extend it.

Luka led all scorers with 37 points on 11-22 shooting, including 5-9 from deep. He also grabbed 12 boards, dished out four assists, and secured four steals. With the victory, Memphis is eliminated in Group Play, while the Mavericks stay alive for a Wild Card spot.

✌️Double Clipper highlights✌️

First, we get the emphatic slam from Zubac, then an alley-oop to Derrick Jones off an inbounds pass from Powell.

🥊Fight to the finish🥊

Jeremy Sochan gets the tough finish and the and-1, as the Spurs try and stay with the Suns as the teams enter the fourth quarter, and the Suns have an 11-point advantage. San Antonio needs a victory to have any chance of moving onto the Knockout Rounds, as does Phoenix.

Staying alive🪩

The Thunder pulled off a big 133-106 win over the Jazz keeping them in play to advance to the Knockout Rounds. A Suns win over the Spurs would clinch the West B bracket for Oklahoma City, but they can also clinch a spot with losses by Dallas and Portland. To get a better sense of where the Thunder sit, follow the Emirates NBA Cup live standings.

No look put in🛸

Wembanyama gets the feed up top and puts it in over his head with his back to the basket for two of his 12 points. as the Spurs trial the Suns 62-57. San Antonio needs a win to clinch the West B bracket and advance.

🌱East seeds planted🌱

Seeding for the Knockout Rounds in the East is set. The No. 1 seed Bucks will host the No. 4 Magic, while the No. 2 seed Knicks will host the No. 3 seeded Hawks. Quarterfinals play will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday and schedules will come out later tonight.

Knicks punch ticket🎫

The East is set in the Emirates NBA Cup after New York took down the Magic, 121-106. Due to point differential, Orlando will move onto the Knockouts Round too, finishing +45, over the Celtics’ +23 and the Pistons’ +7, as all three teams finished 3-1.

Tyus puts him on skates🛼

Jones gets in his bag and himself open for a two-point make as the Suns and Spurs head to halftime. Phoenix currently leads the Spurs 52-39 at the half.

Career night for Scottie📢

Barnes reached a new career high with 35 points on 12-20 shooting, including nine rebounds and five assists in the Raptors’ 122-111 win over the Pacers.

Big game Luka

Dončić is doing what he can to help the Mavericks chances of earning the West Wild Card spot with a massive first half, scoring 24 points on 7-12 shooting.  Dallas and the Grizzlies are in a tight one, as the Mavericks are trailing 62-60 with the second half just getting underway.

The picture is getting clearer🖼️

The Bucks and Hawks both have earned a guaranteed spot in the Knockout Rounds, and it looks like the Knicks may be punching their ticket as well, with a big lead on Orlando. However, Boston can still sneak into the Wild Card spot, and the Knicks can still earn the No. 1 seed in the East depending on the final score.

😱Unbelievable😱

Gilgeous-Alexander fakes out everyone on his way to the hoop and finds himself with an open two-point shot. The Thunder have built their lead up to 17, outscoring Utah 82-65 about halfway through the third quarter.

⚡Thunder are rolling⚡

Oklahoma City forced 19 turnovers in the first half, which they turned into 27 points for a single-half franchise record. The Thunder are currently up 15, 78-63 over Utah, as they try and advance to the Knockout Rounds. Check out our live NBA Emirates Cup standings now to see where they sit.

Bucks move on🥳

Milwaukee defeated Detroit 128-107 to win the East B bracket and move on to the Knockout Rounds. They’re also guaranteed to host a game against a to-be-determined opponent next week. The Bucks’ shots were falling early and never stopped, knocking down 23-41 three-point attempts. Giannis scored 28 points to go with eight assists and seven rebounds, while Lillard chipped in 27 points.

Goes way🆙

Luka Dončić finds Lively for a big alley-oop over Jaren Jackson Jr. The Mavericks currently hold a 45-38 lead at the midway point of the second quarter over the Grizzlies as these two squads battle in hopes of earning a Wild Card spot in the Emirates NBA Cup.

Hits milestone🎉

Devin Booker made his first bucket of the night to bring his career total to 15,000 points. Congrats, Devin!

Going live🎥

Dereck Lively gets up and throws it down on the break for two of his four points, as the Mavericks jump out to a 20-17 lead over the Grizzlies late in the first.

🏆Emirates NBA Cup update🏆

Where things stand right now,

⛔Return to sender⛔

Jalen Brunson gets by Jalen Suggs, but Suggs chases him down for a big block at the rim.

The Knicks hold a 20-point lead, 71-41, over Orlando at the half. Despite trailing, Franz Wagner leads all scorers with 20, while Karl-Anthony Towns is pacing the leading Knicks with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Crushing it💪

Isaiah Joe blows by the defense and jams it home with the left hand, as the Thunder have a 38-28 lead on the Jazz early in the second quarter.

❌Get it out of here❌

Towns shuts Franz Wagner down in the paint with the blocked shot. The Knicks have built a 52-34 lead halfway through the second quarter.

🦌Bucks are ballin’🦌

Giannis gets a strong slam for two as the Bucks take a 78-59 lead into halftime against the Pistons. Milwaukee’s scoring surge has been propelled by 15 made threes on just 21 attempts, for 71.4% accuracy.

Where’d the ball go🤔

Darius Garland fakes the pass to Jarrett Allen and loses the defender in the paint, leaving him open for the easy bucket. The Cavaliers are pouring it on tonight as halftime nears with a 60-38 lead over the Wizards.

That’s a rim shaker‼️

Guerschon Yabusele saves the ball, Tyrese Maxey catches it, and then he spots KJ Martin streaking for an authoritative alley-oop finish.

The 76ers are eliminated from advancing in the Emirates NBA Cup but they’re bringing it tonight against the also eliminated Charlotte Hornets. Philadelphia has a 53-40 lead late in the first half, with Kelly Oubre on fire shooting 4-4 from three for 12 points. Paul George is also cooking with 14 points on 4-5 shooting from deep.

🚂Train coming through🚂

Karl-Anthony Towns finds the open lane and explodes toward the rim for a strong one-handed slam.

The Knicks currently hold a 21-18 lead over the Magic lead late in the first quarter. Brunson leads New York with eight points, and Caldwell-Pope has nine on 3-3 shooting from distance.

🎯Back-to-back🎯

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hits a pair of threes to get things going in New York. The Magic have an early 14-10 advantage in the East A matchup. The winner of this game is guaranteed to move on to the Knockout Rounds.

Cade➡️Duren connection

Jalen Duren grabs the rebound, pushes it up to Cade, and goes right to the basket to get an emphatic alley-oop.

There’s a playoff atmosphere in Detroit, as these two teams battle for the right to advance to the Knockout Rounds, and the Bucks have taken a 24-20 lead.

It’s Dame time early⌚

Damian Lillard is cooking, starting with 3-3 shooting for seven points in the pivotal East B bracket matchup.

The Pistons have taken the lead early though, 18-14 halfway through the first quarter. Jalen Duren leads all scorers with nine.

Dialing in🎛️

Jalen Brunson warms up ahead of an East A showdown with Orlando at 7:30 ET on TNT. The winner of the Knicks and Magic will take the East A bracket and is guaranteed to move onto the Knockout Rounds.

Getting loose🤙

The Bucks and Pistons prepare to do battle at 7 ET, with East B bragging rights on the line. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the rest of the Milwaukee squad warm up, while Cade Cunningham works on his shot before arguably the biggest game of his young career.

👏Congrats, Shai👏

Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Western Conference Kia Player of the Month for November after winning the award in October, too. A strong performance from Shai tonight against the Jazz wouldn’t only increase his chances for a three-peat, but it could also help the Thunder advance to the Knockout Rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup.

📖 🍿Top3️⃣Storylines🍿📖

  1. The East A and East B brackets are up for grabs when the Pistons host the Bucks and Knicks host the Magic. 

Milwaukee and Detroit are both 3-0 in the East B bracket with the winner of this matchup guaranteed to move on. The loser though will still have a chance to advance depending on how the tiebreakers shake out. The same can be said for Orlando and New York in East A with both teams 3-0 in group play. The winner will clinch the bracket, except due to tiebreakers, if the Knicks lose, they will be eliminated. If the Magic lose, they’ll be in the driver’s seat to secure the East’s Wild Card spot. 

For the Wild Card, the Celtics who have already finished group play with a 3-1 record, but lost the East C bracket to Atlanta are still in contention to move on. It’ll all come down to point differential, as the Celtics finished +23, but Orlando +60, Milwaukee +29, and Detroit +28, are sitting in better position to get the Wild Card spot depending on final scores. Due to Orlando’s massive point differential advantage, it’ll be key for the Celtics and the loser of the Pistons and Bucks game that Orlando defeats New York to have any realistic chance to advance.

2. West B is on the line. 

There are still a lot of moving parts in the West. The Warriors have clinched West C and the Rockets have clinched West A, but West B still has multiple contenders. 

The Spurs will win West B with a victory over the Suns. Oklahoma City will win the bracket if they defeat the Jazz and the Suns beat the Spurs. However, the Suns will take it if they beat San Antonio but the Thunder fall to the Jazz. 

3. The West Wild Card spot has numerous contenders. 

The Wild Card is wide open in the West, as the Suns, Thunder, and Spurs are all still in contention depending on who wins West B. The Clippers, Trail Blazers, Mavericks, Nuggets, and Grizzlies have also yet to be eliminated. A deeper dive into the numerous scenarios here can be accessed via our 2024 NBA Emirates Cup tracker.

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