NBA Cup Week 2 Friday Recap

Blayne Kessler
Nov 11, 2023
4 min read

Game Recaps

EGA: PHI (0-0) @ DET (0-0)

One of the two 4 pm tip games, Detroit came out quick and took a double digit lead in the 1st before going into the half up by 8. In the 3rd Embiid came out with a take no prisoners attitude and scored 14 points himself, propelling the Sixers to a 6 point lead at the end of the quarter. The Sixers kept their foot on the gas in the 4th and ended up with a 114-106 victory. Embiid finished the game with 33 points and 16 rebounds, albeit on 8-21 from the field (he was 16-19 from the line). Maxey also poured in 29 points and 11 assists to help out the MVP.

EGB: CHA (0-0) @ WAS (0-1)

Washington was in control of this game almost the entire way but never put it out of reach, which ended up coming back to haunt them. Multiple times the Wizards pulled out to a double digit lead and the Hornets came back. The Hornets did not even make a three pointer until there was 23 seconds left in the first half, yet the Wizards headed into the break up 3. The Wizards ballooned the lead again in the second half, but the Hornets fought back and took the lead with LaMelo’s 3rd three of the 4th quarter with a little over 4 minutes left. The Hornets simply outmuscled the Wizards the rest of the way, getting inside when they wanted and grabbing offensive boards, securing the 7 point win. Hayward (27-5-9), LaMelo (25-6-6) and Mark Williams (21-24-3) all chipped in with 20+ points for the Hornets, and Williams finished with a big beef grabbing 24(!!) rebounds.

EGC: BKN (1-0) @ BOS (0-0)

Jaylen Brown came out hot and gave the Celtics a quick first quarter lead, the score ending at 38-33 Celtics for the period. The C’s increased that lead to double digits in the second quarter, with Tatum scoring 13 within the period. The second half was more of the same, and despite a Nets run late in the 3rd to cut the game to single digits, the Celtics immediately increased their lead at the start of the 4th and easily closed out the Nets. Tatum ended the game with a 23 point 10 rebound double-double while Brown dropped in 28.

WGA: UTA (0-0) @ MEM (0-1)

Memphis came out to a quick 7-0 lead and that was about all the good they did in the first half, letting up 76 in the half to the Jazz. That lead went up to 21 with 3:36 left in the 3rd, and after that the Grizzlies came roaring back. Desmond Bane scored 15 in the next 9 minutes and causing a 114 tie with 6 minutes left. Unfortunately for them, the Jazz ended up pulling away in the final few minutes, winning 127-121. Markannen and Clarkson each scored 26 on 50+% field goal shooting while Banes 37 was ultimately not enough for the Grizzlies.

WGA: LAL (0-0) @ PHO (0-0)

By far the game of the night. The Lakers first quarter struggles continued, and they went into the half down 8. Davis finished the half 2/9 with only 5 points. They then hit their next seven threes in the third and early 4th quarter to take the lead. Cam Reddish hit two straight threes in the early 4th and another one with 1:10 left to put the Lakers up that essentially sealed the game. Lebron played extremely well down the stretch and finished with an efficient 32 point and 11 rebound double double, going 11 for 17. AD also finished with 11 rebounds and added 18 points, finishing 5-14 but 8-8 from the line. Durant was great down the stretch, but missed a mid range shot with 47 seconds left that left the Suns with little hope down 5. He finished the game with 38 points and was a +8 in a 3 point loss.

WGB: NO (0-0) @ HOU (0-0)

This was a close game throughout. The Pelicans looked to be in control and headed to a victory, up 5 with less than 90 seconds left. Then, disaster struck for them as Fred Vanvleet hit back to back 3’s to put the Rockets up 101-100, and that was pretty much the game as it turned into a free throw contest after that. The Rockets ended up eeking out the 104-101 win.

WGB: LAC (0-0) @ DAL (0-1)

The Clippers offense came out clicking and looking good, scoring 14 in the first 3:30 of the the game. They ended the quarter up 3, and after that it was all Mavericks. They absolutely smothered the Clippers in the 2nd, outscoring them 47-18, and that was all she wrote as the Mavs cruised to an eventual 18 point win. Luka had 44 points on a ridiculous 17-21 shooting night, going 6-9 from deep as well.

WGC: MIN (0-0) @ SA (0-0)

The Spurs led for most of the first half before the Wolves went up by 2 right before the break. The lead grew to 18 early in the 4th before Wemby and Vassell hit some shots to make it interesting, but the Wolves never entered into any real danger the rest of the game and finished with a 7 point win. Wembanyama, Vasell, and Towns all scored 29 points each, and Anthony Edwards had 28.

WGC: OKC (0-1) @ SAC (0-0)

Sacramento led the whole game after an early 4-4 tie. They were never able to really pull away and put the Thunder out of reach, but it never felt like they weren't in control, finishing with a final victory margin of 7. Sabonis physicality was unmatched by anyone on OKC, and he finished the game with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists. Keon Ellis should also be mentioned, giving Mike Brown good minutes with excellent defense and energy. Meanwhile Shai’s 33 points is all for naught, and with two losses now in group playOKC is just about all but eliminated from advancing.

Current Standings

East Group A

PHI: 1-0 +8

IND: 1-0 +5

CLE: 0-1 -5

DET: 0-1 -8

ATL: 0-0 +0

East Group B

CHA: 1-0 +7

MIA: 1-0 +7

MIL: 1-0 +5

NYK: 0-1 -5

WAS: 0-2 -14

East Group C

BOS: 1-0 +14

BKN: 1-1 -12

CHI: 0-1 -2

TOR: 0-0 +0

ORL: 0-0 +0

East Wildcard

MIA: 1-0 +7

———————

IND: 1-0 +5

MIL: 1-0 +5

BKN: 1-1 -12

West Group A

UTA: 1-0 +6

LAL: 1-0 +3

POR: 1-0 +2

PHO: 0-1 -3

MEM: 0-2 -8

West Group B

DEN: 1-0 +11

HOU: 1-0 +3

DAL: 1-1 +7

NOP: 0-1 -3

LAC: 0-1 -18

West Group C

MIN: 1-0 +7

SAC: 1-0 +7

GSW: 1-0 +2

SAS: 0-1 -7

OKC: 0-2 -9

West Wildcard