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 evening, 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 crew 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 yr – sweeping the season collection and eliminating Sacramento from each the in-season and play-in tournaments.
After we have 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 publish successful information, whereas the Kings (6-7) have been the one crew to win the season collection 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 20 years – the Wolves made a significant 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 dwelling enviornment – the Intuit Dome – for 2024-25, however Paul George is not with the crew 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 crew 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 acquired again to .500 ball, difficult opponents for the ultimate play-in spot till the season’s ultimate week. After a comparatively quiet offseason, does this group have one other degree to rise this yr 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 complete (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 can be promising however would require time to develop.
Six video games to look at
Wolves vs. Kings, Nov. 15 (10 ET, NBA League Go): Final season, Minnesota had an opportunity to clinch its group with a win at dwelling 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 evening from Anthony Edwards. The Kings stayed unbeaten and finally received the group.
Clippers vs. Rockets, Nov. 15 (8 ET, NBA League Go): One other group play rematch from final season noticed James Harden hit a tiebreaking four-point play with six seconds left towards his former crew 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 Go): A matchup of two groups constructing their rosters with younger expertise, this sport will give us an early season have a look at a pair of 2024 prime 10 picks – Houston’s Reed Sheppard (No. 3 general) and Portland’s Donovan Clingan (No. 7 general).
Kings vs. Clippers, Nov. 22 (10:30 ET, NBA League Go): 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 all the way 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 Go): The Rockets had the Kings’ quantity final yr – sweeping the season collection by a median of 17 factors per sport and being the one crew to carry the Sacramento offense below 100 factors per sport. Will this dominance carry over to 2024-25 or can the Kings discover a approach to get previous the Rockets as they give the impression of being to repeat as Group Play winners?
Prediction
Minnesota wins the group, with Sacramento and LA within the combine for a wild card.
Regardless that the Wolves made a significant transfer forward of the season – and it might take a while to include Randle and DiVincenzo into the combination – it is a 50-plus win crew that’s nonetheless anchored with protection and a rising celebrity in Anthony Edwards.
Sacramento has the same problem in constructing chemistry with new addition DeRozan and the way he suits subsequent to Fox and Domantas Sabonis. LA has a unique problem with changing George and issues over well being with Leonard already being held out of scrimmages in coaching camp.
Houston can play undoubtedly play the position of spoiler and probably problem for a wild card if a few of their younger core makes an early leap.