The NBA Cup continues with eight games on Friday night. The tournament runs through Dec. 17.
It was called the In-Season Tournament last year when it debuted, after years and years of Commissioner Adam Silver wanting to add something extra to the regular season. All 30 teams take part and will play four group-stage games.
Click to Gallery
New York Knicks' OG Anunoby, left, dunks past Philadelphia 76ers' Kyle Lowry during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl goes after a loose ball with Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez and Ryan Rollins during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup tournament basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns, center, goes up for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George, left, during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The Minnesota Timberwolves brings the ball up court against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller, center, dunks between Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., left, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Memphis Grizzlies center Jay Huff (30) reacts after scoring as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks on during in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)
From there, eight teams move to the quarterfinals, and the winners of those games will head to Las Vegas for the semifinals on Dec. 14.
Cleveland is atop the NBA, but right now would only be third in its group. Atlanta, Detroit and Portland entered Friday all in control of their own destinies regarding the quarterfinals. And the Los Angeles Lakers still have never lost a Cup game; the defending tournament champions are 9-0 in these games going back to last season.
All games in the tournament — except for the championship game — count in the regular-season standings and statistics. The championship game is considered extra and isn't part of the 82-game season for the two teams that make the final.
ESPN has a doubleheader Friday: Warriors-Pelicans and Mavericks-Nuggets. TNT will have doubleheaders again on Tuesday and Dec. 3.
On the “Black Friday” shopping holiday of Nov. 29, ESPN and NBA TV will show five Cup games — spanning about 13 hours of coverage in all — with games starting at noon EST and tipping off through 10 p.m.
Local broadcasts will also be available, as usual.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Knicks (-375 in East Group A), Detroit (+140 in East Group B), Cleveland and Atlanta (both +165 in East Group C), Minnesota (-110 in West Group A), the Lakers (+130 in West Group B) and Golden State (-120 in West Group C) are the group favorites right now.
New York, at +550, is the favorite to win the NBA Cup. And if the NBA Cup MVP trophy was to be handed out today, the odds-on favorite according to BetMGM: the Knicks' Jalen Brunson.
A breakdown of the groups and the standings:
East Group A — Orlando 2-0, New York 2-0, Brooklyn 1-1, Philadelphia 0-2, Charlotte 0-2.
Schedule: New York 111, Philadelphia 99;Orlando 114, Charlotte 89;New York 124, Brooklyn 122;Orlando 98, Philadelphia 86;Brooklyn 116, Charlotte 115; Brooklyn at Philadelphia, Friday; New York at Charlotte, Tuesday; Orlando at Brooklyn, Tuesday; Philadelphia at Charlotte, Dec. 3; Orlando at New York, Dec. 3.
East Group B — Detroit 2-0, Milwaukee 1-0, Miami 1-1, Indiana 0-1, Toronto 0-2.
Schedule: Detroit 123, Miami 121;Milwaukee 99, Toronto 85;Miami 124, Indiana 111;Detroit 99, Toronto 95; Indiana at Milwaukee, Friday; Milwaukee at Miami, Tuesday; Toronto at Miami, Nov. 29; Detroit at Indiana, Nov. 29; Milwaukee at Detroit, Dec. 3; Indiana at Toronto, Dec. 3.
East Group C — Atlanta 2-0, Boston 1-1, Cleveland 1-1, Washington 0-1, Chicago 0-1.
Schedule: Atlanta 117, Boston 116;Cleveland 144, Chicago 126;Atlanta 129, Washington 117;Boston 120, Cleveland 117; Atlanta at Chicago, Friday; Boston at Washington, Friday; Chicago at Washington, Tuesday; Boston at Chicago, Nov. 29; Cleveland at Atlanta, Nov. 29; Washington at Cleveland, Dec. 3.
West Group A — Houston 1-0, Portland 1-0, Minnesota 1-1, Sacramento 0-1, Los Angeles Clippers 0-1.
Schedule: Portland 106, Minnesota 98;Minnesota 130, Sacramento 126;Houston 125, LA Clippers 104; Sacramento at LA Clippers, Friday; Portland at Houston, Friday; Houston at Minnesota, Tuesday; LA Clippers at Minnesota, Nov. 29; Sacramento at Portland, Nov. 29; Houston at Sacramento, Dec. 3; Portland at LA Clippers, Dec. 3.
West Group B — Los Angeles Lakers 2-0, Oklahoma City 1-1, San Antonio 1-1, Phoenix 1-1, Utah 0-2.
Schedule: Phoenix 120, Utah 112;LA Lakers 120, San Antonio 115;Oklahoma City 99, Phoenix 83;San Antonio 110, Oklahoma City 104;LA Lakers 124, Utah 118; LA Lakers at Phoenix, Tuesday; San Antonio at Utah, Tuesday; Oklahoma City at LA Lakers, Nov. 29; Utah at Oklahoma City, Dec. 3; San Antonio at Phoenix, Dec. 3.
West Group C — Golden State 2-0, Dallas 1-1, Denver 1-1, New Orleans 1-1, Memphis 0-2.
Schedule: Golden State 120, Dallas 117;New Orleans 101, Denver 94;Golden State 123, Memphis 118;Denver 122, Memphis 110;Dallas 132, New Orleans 91; Dallas at Denver, Friday; Golden State at New Orleans, Friday; New Orleans at Memphis, Nov. 29; Memphis at Dallas, Dec. 3; Golden State at Denver, Dec. 3.
The best single-game scoring efforts in the NBA Cup this season.
60 — De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento vs. Minnesota, Nov. 15
43 — Cam Thomas, Brooklyn at New York, Nov. 15
40 — Tyler Herro, Miami at Detroit, Nov. 12
40 — Anthony Davis, LA Lakers at San Antonio, Nov. 15
There were four triple-doubles in NBA Cup games last season (Domantas Sabonis had two, Nikola Jokic had one and Tyrese Haliburton had one). There have been five already in Cup games this season (Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, Jalen Johnson, Josh Hart and Alperen Sengun all have one).
The Wizards (0-5), the Bulls (0-5) and the Grizzlies (0-6) still have never won a Cup game. All went 0-4 in group play last season and are waiting for their first win this season.
Chicago plays at Washington on Tuesday.
To the winners: pride, a trophy and money.
Players on the winning team will claim $514,971 each, while $205,988 goes to each player on the runner-up team, $102,994 to players whose teams lost in the semifinals and $51,497 to those players whose teams lost in the quarterfinals.
If teams get eliminated in group play, they'll have two more games added to their schedule. If teams get eliminated in the quarterfinals, they'll have one more game added.
All teams have only 80 games scheduled so far in the regular season but will play 82. That's why the title game doesn't count; it would be an 83rd game for those teams (the 80 games that are already scheduled, then the quarterfinal, then the semifinal will be their 82 games).
Not every game played over the next month is a tournament game. A quick way to know if it is a tournament matchup: Every team has a new, distinctive court for these games. See those courts, and you'll know it's a Cup game.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
New York Knicks' OG Anunoby, left, dunks past Philadelphia 76ers' Kyle Lowry during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl goes after a loose ball with Milwaukee Bucks' Brook Lopez and Ryan Rollins during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup tournament basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns, center, goes up for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers' Paul George, left, during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The Minnesota Timberwolves brings the ball up court against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller, center, dunks between Philadelphia 76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr., left, and Jeff Dowtin Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Memphis Grizzlies center Jay Huff (30) reacts after scoring as Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks on during in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Nikki Boertman)
Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation.
The Republican's announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department.
Here's the latest:
In other presidential transition news, Trump is urging federal lawmakers to kill a bill that would protect journalists from having to disclose information about anonymous sources or other records obtained during reporting.
The proposal that passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, but is pending in the Senate, also bars the government from requesting data from phone or email providers. The bill includes exceptions such as when there’s a reasonable threat of imminent violence or an act of terrorism.
As of now, only some states grant absolute protection from disclosing sources or other records.
“Republicans must kill this bill!” Trump posted on Truth Social and shared a video from PBS News Hour interviewing the CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalist, Jodie Ginsburg, talking about the proposal.
Last month, The Associated Press, along with more than 100 news outlets and organizations, signed a letter authored by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press asking senators to support the bill.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre isn’t commenting on Matt Gaetz withdrawing his nomination as president-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general in the new administration.
“We really, truly want to respect the transfer of power,” Jean-Pierre said Thursday during a White House press briefing, explaining her steadfast refusal to comment on Trump personnel moves.
But Jean-Pierre nonetheless used the matter to take a subtle jab at how Trump, who was twice indicted by the federal government, has reacted to federal law enforcement.
“Look, the president has said when it comes to investigation, that department should be independent. there should be no partisanship. There should be no loyalty to one party or the other,” she said. “The loyalty should be to the Constitution, and the loyalty should be to the rule of law.”
Trump has insisted that it was Biden and his lieutenants who weaponized the Justice Department by indicting him for his role in trying to overturn Biden’s 2020 election victory and for hoarding national security documents after Trump left the White House in January 2021. That latter case has been thrown out by a Trump-appointed judge. The former case is still pending.
Taken together, there are a striking number of incidents in which potential high-ranking government officials in Trump’s second administration face allegations of sexual abuse.
Here’s a look at some of the cases:
President-elect Donald Trump: He was found liable by a New York City jury for sexual abuse and defamation and eventually ordered to pay the woman, E. Jean Carroll, $83 million in damages.
Pete Hegseth, nominee for secretary of defense: A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police the encounter had been consensual and denies wrongdoing.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for secretary of health and human services: A woman who babysat for Kennedy and his second wife told Vanity Fair magazine he groped her in the late 1990s, when she was 23. Kennedy did not deny the allegation, telling a podcast: “I had a very, very rambunctious youth.” He texted the woman an apology after the story was published.
Linda McMahon, nominee for secretary of education: A lawsuit filed last month alleges McMahon knowingly enabled sexual exploitation of children by a World Wrestling Entertainment employee as early as the 1980s. She denies the allegations.
Elon Musk, Trump’s choice to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency: The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX was accused of sexual misconduct by a flight attendant contracted by SpaceX who worked on his private jet in 2016. He denied the claim.
▶ Read more about the allegations of sexual misconduct
Among those who were seen as contenders before Gaetz was picked is former acting attorney general Matt Whitaker, who Trump chose earlier this week to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO.
Other names that were floated as potential attorney general nominees include Jeff Jensen, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
Trump last week chose Todd Blanche, an attorney who led the legal team that defended the Republican at his hush money criminal trial, to serve as the second-highest ranking Justice Department official. Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor, was chosen to be the principal associate deputy attorney general.
An attorney who represents two women who say they were paid by Gaetz for sex says his clients are “relieved to have this chapter behind them.”
“They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” said Joel Leppard, whose clients testified before the House Ethics Committee. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.”
Leppard revealed earlier this week details about his clients’ testimony to House Ethics Committee to release its report on the Gaetz investigation. Leppard said his clients were paid a total of $10,000 by the congressman. One of his clients testified that she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in 2017, while he was in Congress.
Though Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration for attorney general, he isn’t Trump’s only appointee in hot water.
A woman told police she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Pete Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave, according to a detailed investigative report made public late Wednesday.
Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and Trump’s nominee to be defense secretary, told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing, the report said.
Earlier today, Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.”
▶ Read more about the allegations against Hegseth
In his Nov. 13 resignation letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Gaetz said, “I hereby resign, as United States Representatives for Florida’s First Congressional District, effective immediately, and I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress, to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration.”
He transmitted a similar letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state began a special election process to fill the vacancy.
Attorneys involved in a civil case brought by a Gaetz associate were notified this week that an unauthorized person accessed a file shared between lawyers that included unredacted depositions from a woman who said Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17 and a second woman who says she saw the encounter, according to attorney Joel Leppard.
Leppard said that two women he represents told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017 when Gaetz was in Congress.
The files the person was able to access were part of a defamation case filed by a Gaetz associate against the former representative’s onetime political ally Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty in 2021 to sex trafficking of a minor, and admitted that he had paid at least one underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The apparent breach was first reported Tuesday by The New York Times.
Gaetz has denied all the allegations.
▶ Read more about the apparent file breach
Trump had announced last week that he’d chosen Todd Blanche, an attorney who’s defended him in some of his criminal cases, to serve as deputy attorney general. That’s the second highest ranking position at the Justice Department.
A former federal prosecutor, Blanche has been a key figure defended him both in the New York hush money criminal trial that ended in a conviction in May, and the federal cases brought by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Thursday in a post on X that he believes the now-former congressman “will continue to contribute to our nation’s wellbeing for years to come.”
Graham, a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, also said he looks forward to working with Trump “regarding future nominees to get this important job up and running.”
The caption of the Instagram photo reads “The end of an era. No one loves America more than this guy.”
The Florida representative was once embroiled in a sex trafficking investigation involving underage girls by the Justice Department, the very department President-elect Trump had tapped him to lead.
Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and in February 2023 said the investigation ended with no federal charges against him.He was also being investigated by the House Ethics panel, but Republicans declined yesterday to release the committee’s findings over objections from Democrats in a split vote.
▶ Read more about the Justice Department’s investigation into Gaetz
He had abruptly resigned from his congressional seat upon being nominated as attorney general amid a long-running House Ethics investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, which was seen as a way to halt the probe.
The House Ethics panel’s Republicans declined this week to release the committee’s findings into Gaetz over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter.
However, Gaetz did win re-election earlier this month for the new Congress which convenes Jan. 3. But it’s unclear if he would take office. There’s also been plans for a special election in Florida for his seat.
“President Trump remains committed to choosing a leader for the Department of Justice who will strongly defend the Constitution and end the weaponization of our justice system,” said Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump-Vance transition team.
In a message on his Truth Social network, Trump also said he was looking forward to seeing what Gaetz will do next after withdrawing as his pick.
“He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump posted. “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!”
Matt Gaetz has just withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general following continued scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on the former congressman’s ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer.
The Florida Republican’s announcement came one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support for his confirmation to lead the Justice Department.
Gaetz’s withdrawal is a blow to Trump’s push to install steadfast loyalists in his incoming administration and the first sign that Trump could face resistance from members of his own party.
President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
