After two seasons of “meaningless” hoops, the San Antonio Spurs are considerably in an elimination recreation subsequent week. With only one recreation left within the group stage of the 2024 NBA Cup, the Spurs are in pole place to win Western Convention Group B. It’ll simply take a win in opposition to the Phoenix Suns on the street.
The Spurs, Suns, and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are tied for first of their group with a 2-1 document. The primary tie-breaker within the group stage is the head-to-head document. San Antonio owns the head-to-head benefit over OKC because of a cup win over the Thunder. Meaning all San Antonio must do is beat the Suns, they usually make it into the elimination rounds. Phoenix misplaced to the Thunder in a earlier NBA Cup recreation, in order that they’ll want the Thunder to lose and beat the Spurs to win the group. OKC must win, and the Spurs must lose for the Thunder to maneuver on.
It’s additionally technically potential the Spurs may make it into the knockout rounds, even with a loss to Phoenix, but it surely’s unlikely. One workforce from every convention with the most effective document and level differential makes it into the subsequent stage of the NBA Cup as a wild card workforce. The Dallas Mavericks are in a first-rate place with a 2-1 document and a +41 level differential. If the Thunder lose to the Utah Jazz (by a margin that considerably hurts their level differential), the Mavs get blown out, and the Spurs handle to maintain it VERY shut in a loss, they might probably be the West’s wild card workforce.
San Antonio simply must win to keep away from that convoluted state of affairs. The Suns are coming off a loss to the Brooklyn Nets and can face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. Many will bear in mind the Spurs’ shocking takedown of the Suns in back-to-back video games early final season. The Suns nonetheless have a number of expertise with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, plus an improved supporting solid headlined by Tre Jones’ brother, Tyus.
Whether or not you’ve purchased into the hype of the NBA Cup or not, that is the closest the Spurs have gotten to a “must-win” recreation since their Play-In Event look within the 2021-22 season. With Jeremy Sochan probably coming again wholesome, the Spurs may have their complete roster prepared for the battle.
