The Spurs beat the Nuggets in Denver to advance to win their group and advance to the knockout stage of the Emirates NBA Cup. It’s an impressive achievement for a young team missing two starters, especially since they faced quality opponents in all four of their games.
Soon, they will face a new challenge, as they enter the quarterfinals in a win-or-go-home game against the Lakers. So let’s take a look at what happens next.
When are the quarterfinals being played and who will play whom?
The quarterfinals will take place between Dec. 9 and 10. The higher seed hosts the quarterfinals, so the Spurs, winners of group C, will visit the Lakers, winners of group B, on Dec. 10.
San Antonio will play the Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Magic, Cavaliers, and Pelicans before then, and could get one or both of Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama back. The Lakers will face the Pelicans, Suns, Raptors, Celtics and 76ers and will head into the quarterfinals with an extra day of rest. The two teams have not faced each other yet in the season.
The other Western Conference quarterfinals game will pit the Thunder, winners of group C and owners of the best record in group play, against the Suns, the wildcard team that got in by having the best record out of all the West teams that finished second in group play. The two teams faced each other in group C play, and to no one’s surprise, the Thunder prevailed. OKC is a strong candidate to be there in the semis to face whoever advances between the Lakers and Spurs.
In the East, the Magic dominated and will enter as the top team, hosting the wildcard Heat. The Raptors will host the Knicks in a battle of group winners. The Eastern Conference quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 9.
What happens if the Spurs advance?
Beating the Lakers in Los Angeles won’t be easy. They currently have the second-best record in the West and boast a star-studded trio, featuring Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the rising Austin Reaves. That said, they have an underwhelming point differential, which raises some skepticism about whether their record accurately reflects how good they really are. Still, both the Lakers and the Spurs will play five games between now and the quarterfinals, so we’ll have a better idea of how evenly matched they are by Dec. 10.
Whoever wins the quarterfinal game will earn a trip to Las Vegas for the semifinals, to be held on Saturday, Dec. 13. That’s when the Cup starts to feel special, although for the Spurs getting out of the group stage for the first time already feels like an accomplishment. The Lakers are Cup veterans, having won the first edition, but they missed the knockout stage last season.
If the Spurs advance, they will face the winner of the Thunder-Suns game in the semifinals, looking for a place in the championship game, which will be played on Dec. 16. If they lose, they will face the loser of the other quarterfinal game. Every game except for the championship game counts towards the regular season standings.
What do the Spurs get if they win it all?
For the franchise, the goal is to win the Cup. Only two other teams, the Lakers and Bucks, have won it, and while it isn’t the most respected competition right now, it seems like it will continue to be a staple of the NBA season. Having a cup banner will never be as prestigious as a title one, but it would be a step in the right direction in the Spurs’ return to relevance.
As for the players, they will get monetary compensation for being in the knockout round. If they lose in the quarterfinals, they’ll get around $50,000 each. If they lose in the semifinals, they’ll get around $100,000 each. If they lose in the finals, they’ll get around $200,000, and if they win the championship game, they’ll receive around $500,000 each. Players on two-way contracts get less. If you want to know the full details, you can find them here.
The experience of playing high-stakes games could also be a challenge, but also a reward for some of the players. The ones who’ve been around for the rebuild, like Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, would surely relish the opportunity to compete for a title. For some of the older guys, it could be an opportunity to reassert their importance in high-leverage moments. And the younger guys would be getting a taste of success while learning important lessons on how to win that could come in handy in the playoffs.
The main goal for San Antonio this year is to return to the postseason, but getting far in the cup could be a short-term objective that prepares them for the rest of the season.
The Spurs will visit the Lakers on Dec. 10 at 9 p.m. CST.