Anthony Edwards & the Wolves face off towards James Harden & the Clippers in a West Group A matchup on Nov. 29 on ESPN.
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With Group Play of the Emirates NBA Cup 2024 set to tip off in November, we’re breaking down every group as they put together for opening night time, starting with West Group A.
This group options two playoff groups from the 2023-24 season in Minnesota and LA Clippers, one Play-In Match staff in Sacramento and two lottery groups in Houston and Portland.
Within the inaugural competitors final season, the Kings received their group (which additionally included the Wolves) by going an ideal 4-0 in group play earlier than falling to New Orleans within the quarterfinals. The Pelicans – who received the group that additionally featured the Rockets and Clippers – have been a thorn within the Kings’ aspect all 12 months – sweeping the season sequence and eliminating Sacramento from each the in-season and play-in tournaments.
Once we take a look at head-to-head matchups from final season between groups in West Group A, the Wolves (11-3), Clippers (9-6) and Rockets (7-6) have been the one groups to put up successful data, whereas the Kings (6-7) have been the one staff to win the season sequence with Minnesota.
| MIN | LAC | HOU | SAC | POR | TOT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIN | x | 3-1 | 3-0 | 1-2 | 4-0 | 11-3 (.786) |
| LAC | 1-3 | x | 2-1 | 2-2 | 4-0 | 9-6 (.600) |
| HOU | 0-3 | 1-2 | x | 3-0 | 3-1 | 7-6 (.538) |
| SAC | 2-1 | 2-2 | 0-3 | x | 2-1 | 6-7 (.462) |
| POR | 0-4 | 0-4 | 1-3 | 1-2 | x | 2-13 (.133) |
Groups breakdown
- Minnesota Timberwolves: After matching their deepest playoff run in franchise historical past – returning to the West finals for the primary time in twenty years – the Wolves made a serious transfer earlier than the beginning of coaching camp, buying and selling Karl-Anthony Cities to New York for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.
- LA Clippers: The Clippers moved into their new residence enviornment – the Intuit Dome – for 2024-25, however Paul George is not with the staff after signing with Philadelphia in free company. The Clippers nonetheless have All-Stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, however can they keep wholesome to guide the staff all season?
- Sacramento Kings: After ending the longest playoff drought in league historical past in 2023, the Kings didn’t make it again in 2024. Will the addition of veteran All-Star DeMar DeRozan be sufficient to raise Sacramento again into the highest half of the West?
- Houston Rockets: Final season, the Rockets added a pair of veterans and a brand new coach to their younger core and received again to .500 ball, difficult opponents for the ultimate play-in spot till the season’s closing week. After a comparatively quiet offseason, does this group have one other degree to rise this 12 months within the aggressive West?
- Portland Path Blazers: Of their first season in over a decade with out Damian Lillard, the Blazers matched their lowest win whole (21) in 18 years. Portland is constructing round a trio of lottery picks from the previous three drafts – Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson and Donovan Clingan – which are promising however would require time to develop.
Six video games to look at
Wolves vs. Kings, Nov. 15 (10 ET, NBA League Move): Final season, Minnesota had an opportunity to clinch its group with a win at residence over the Kings, however De’Aaron Fox (36 pts, 12 ast) had different concepts as he led the Kings to a 124-111 highway win regardless of a 35-point night time from Anthony Edwards. The Kings stayed unbeaten and finally received the group.
Clippers vs. Rockets, Nov. 15 (8 ET, NBA League Move): One other group play rematch from final season noticed James Harden hit a tiebreaking four-point play with six seconds left towards his former staff to assist the Clippers get their first win since Harden’s early-season arrival from Philly. In seven video games towards the Rockets since leaving Houston, Harden has gone 5-2 whereas averaging 23.6 pts, 8.4 ast and seven.0 reb.
Blazers vs. Rockets, Nov. 22 (8 ET, NBA League Move): A matchup of two groups constructing their rosters with younger expertise, this sport will give us an early season take a look at a pair of 2024 prime 10 picks – Houston’s Reed Sheppard (No. 3 total) and Portland’s Donovan Clingan (No. 7 total).
Kings vs. Clippers, Nov. 22 (10:30 ET, NBA League Move): Ever since their 176-175 double-overtime instantaneous traditional again in 2023 – the second-highest scoring sport in NBA historical past – each matchup between these two squads is a must-watch. The three 40+ level scorers in that sport – Malik Monk (45), Kawhi Leonard (44) and Fox (42) – will probably be part of this matchup.
Clippers vs. Wolves, Nov. 29 (7:30 ET, ESPN): The one nationally televised sport from West A gaggle play options two groups that completed third (Wolves) and fourth (Clippers) within the West final season. In a good convention race that got here right down to tiebreakers, all head-to-head matchups tackle added significance, along with the NBA Cup stakes already at play.
Rockets vs. Kings, Dec. 3 (10 ET, NBA League Move): The Rockets had the Kings’ quantity final 12 months – sweeping the season sequence by a median of 17 factors per sport and being the one staff to carry the Sacramento offense beneath 100 factors per sport. Will this dominance carry over to 2024-25 or can the Kings discover a method to get previous the Rockets as they appear to repeat as Group Play winners?
Prediction
Minnesota wins the group, with Sacramento and LA within the combine for a wild card.
Though the Wolves made a serious transfer forward of the season – and it could take a while to include Randle and DiVincenzo into the combination – it is a 50-plus win staff that’s nonetheless anchored with protection and a rising famous person in Anthony Edwards.
Sacramento has an identical problem in constructing chemistry with new addition DeRozan and the way he matches subsequent to Fox and Domantas Sabonis. LA has a special problem with changing George and considerations over well being with Leonard already being held out of scrimmages in coaching camp.
Houston can play positively play the position of spoiler and doubtlessly problem for a wild card if a few of their younger core makes an early leap.