NBA Cup roundup: Rockets move on, Lakers drop 1st game
The second annual in-season tournament, the NBA Cup, resumed Tuesday with five games in group play. For an explanation on how the tourney works, tap here.
To see what happened during last Friday's action, tap here.
Friday's results
- Bulls 127-108 Wizards
- Bucks 106-103 Heat
- Rockets 117-111 T-Wolves
- Spurs 128-115 Jazz
- Lakers 100-127 Suns
Check out our NBA scores page for boxscore recaps of each game and the NBA Cup tab on our NBA standings page for group standings.
Top performers
Damian Lillard (Bucks): Without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, Lillard willed the Bucks to a clutch win over the Heat. Milwaukee's lead guard dropped 37 points, including 25 in the first half, and dished out 12 assists to help the team win its fifth straight contest. After a 2-8 start, the Bucks are .500 and back in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference.
Alperen Sengun (Rockets): While point guard Fred VanVleet led the team in scoring, Sengun's all-around performance versus the T-Wolves helped the Rockets clinch a spot in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. The Turkish center recorded 22 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks to keep Houston perfect in the group stage.
Devin Booker (Suns): Booker played an instrumental role in the Lakers' first-ever NBA Cup loss, leading the Suns with 26 points and 10 assists. With Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal returning to the lineup, Phoenix is poised to make a run in the deep Western Conference.
Highlight of the night
Beal got UP to pin it on the glass 😤💪 pic.twitter.com/HkaxfyvEPC
— NBA (@NBA) November 27, 2024
Suns veteran Bradley Beal gave LeBron James a taste of his own medicine, pinning his layup attempt off the backboard. While it doesn't compare to James' legendary swat on Andre Iguodala in the 2016 Finals, Beal got to enjoy his own standout defensive moment.
Tweet of the night
Inside the NBA roasts Drake for suing Kendrick Lamar pic.twitter.com/TlSTNphCyk
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) November 27, 2024
NBA on TNT ventured into the world of music, weighing in on Drake's lawsuits against Universal Music Group and Kendrick Lamar. Jalen Rose, while filling in for Kenny Smith, questioned if the show should play Lamar's new music to avoid getting their own legal proceedings from the Canadian artist. Ernie Johnson responded with "lawsuits don't scare us around here."
Stat of the night
The tanks are out rolling in Washington. The Wizards' loss to the Bulls means the team has now dropped 12 straight contests after starting the season 2-2. While the hope for playoff basketball this campaign is slim, fans are at least getting a glimpse of the team's young core.
What's next
The Rockets beat the Timberwolves and joined the Warriors as the only teams to clinch a spot in the knockout round.
Picking up again on Friday, the next edition of the NBA Cup is a 10-game slate spread out over the course of the day. Marquee matchups include the Knicks taking on LaMelo Ball and the Hornets, while the Lakers will travel to Oklahoma City to face the Thunder.
Tap the NBA Cup tab on our NBA standings page for the latest group standings.