Night one of the NBA Cup is here, and we have some excellent games to start the tournament. We’ll see if the LA Lakers can reclaim their throne and win their second NBA Cup. You won’t want to miss the action with the group stage kicking off tonight!
This game heavily favors the Timberwolves. The Trail Blazers have regressed heavily despite the addition of some players returning from injury. They were blown out by 45 points in their last game, facing an injured Memphis team. Portland’s flaws have started to shine through, as their hustle and pace can’t help their dismal shooting. Against Memphis, they shot just 9% from the 3-point line on 42 attempts, which was a truly embarrassing performance. We don’t have high hopes for this roster coming together tonight against one of the best teams in the league.
Minnesota should be able to handle Portland easily tonight. Anthony Edwards has been a near-impossible assignment in the league this year, and against a young Portland roster, he’ll likely get whatever he wants. Pairing that with favorable position matchups across the entire roster, Minnesota will probably claim its first group-stage victory tonight. The only chance Portland has in this matchup is if they can resolve their shooting woes overnight, which feels like a stretch.
This game will be the must-watch game of the night, with Klay Thompson returning to the Golden State for the first time since departing the team. Beyond the interpersonal drama of this game, the matchup should be electric. Both teams have been hot to start the year, as Golden State has been punishing at range, shooting nearly 40% from 3. Father Time certainly doesn’t know Stephen Curry’s name, as he’s been incredible for the most part, averaging 22 points a game incredibly efficiently. Alongside him, this Golden State roster has surprised many, as they have been able to dominate so far this year. However, Dallas does pose significant challenges for the Warriors.
Dallas may be a few spots down in the power rankings from Golden State, but they’re sitting at the same table in the West. They have talent across the board, which could be an issue for Golden State—primarily the scoring trio of Klay, Luka, and Kyrie. Golden State will need to be at their peak defensively to slow this group down. A big question surrounding this game will be the availability of Derrick Lively, as he is currently listed as questionable for the evening. If they can get Lively in this game, we believe he could be the game-changing piece against a small Golden State roster. If he’s out this game, it will be a toss-up, but we think Golden State has the best odds to win tonight.
This might be a more interesting game than most people would think. The Heat have struggled out of the gates, with a 4-5 record. They’ll be missing Jimmy Butler tonight, which is a worry for a roster struggling to find scoring. Bam has been hit or miss so far, and the only consistent scorer remains Tyler Herro. However, with such a young roster and a thin bench, this Heat team could be in for a rough year if Jimmy’s injury troubles continue. With Butler, this roster has proven it can be elite, with just about anyone coming off the bench. However, we’re skeptical if Herro and Bam will be enough to carry them tonight.
On the other hand, the Pistons are an interesting matchup for the Heat. If Duren and Stewart are available for this game, Detroit will be formidable tonight. They’ll have the size they need to slow Bam down, and defensively, Miami has no one to toss on Cade, who has been lights out early this year. He’s averaging 23 points a game with 7 rebounds and 8 assists on respectable shooting. Cade should be able to get anything he wants tonight with Jimmy absent. Overall, we like Detroit a bit more in this matchup. It will be close regardless, and you never know what Miami will throw at you, especially for the first night of the NBA Cup!
This matchup has a ton going for it. Both teams are struggling for entirely different reasons. Milwaukee has caught some bad losses this year, some by the skin of their teeth. Their record is well below their talent at 2-8. With Giannis playing at an MVP pace, the supporting cast around him hasn’t helped him enough. With almost no assets to make a trades with, they’ll have to find the improvement internally. A bit of that will eventually come with the return of Khris Middleton, but Doc Rivers will need to go back to the drawing board if this team has any chance this year. It doesn’t make the situation any better now that Damian Lillard will miss the game tonight because he has entered concussion protocol. We’ll see if Giannis and friends have what it takes to cliché a win over a feisty Raptors roster.
The Raptors are clearly in a tanking season; with Scottie Barnes out for an extended amount of time, this team is thin. However, one bright spot has emerged: RJ Barrett. He has been one of the best scorers on a roster that struggles to get the ball through the hoop. Even though his efficiency still leaves something to be desired, he’s averaging 23 points a game this year. Alongside him, Gradey Dick has shown some pop in this young season. Scoring 19 a game with solid efficiency, the second-year guard out of Kansas has already taken a leap. Though this roster is still far from competing, several nagging injuries have thinned out an already middle-of-the-road roster. Especially without Scottie Barnes tonight, we think the Bucks will pick up their 3rd win of the year and their first of this year’s NBA Cup!