Knicks, Thunder favored to win NBA Cup as knockout rounds begin
The NBA Cup has wrapped up group play, and eight teams remain in contention. The quarterfinals will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the semifinals in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Four of the top five seeds in the West advanced to the knockout stage while the East bracket also features worthy contenders.
The Bucks have attracted more bets to win the NBA Cup than any other team, but most of the money wagered is on the Knicks. The Warriors have garnered the second-most money and third-most bets.
Let's get to the odds for each remaining team and look at the quarterfinal matchups.
NBA Cup champion odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Knicks | +300 |
| Thunder | +300 |
| Bucks | +450 |
| Rockets | +550 |
| Mavs | +750 |
| Warriors | +750 |
| Hawks | +2000 |
| Magic | +2200 |
After a rocky start, the Knicks have won 10 of their last 13 contests thanks to a balanced offensive attack. New York is tied for the best odds to win the NBA Cup, owns the third-best odds to win the NBA Finals, and is the 6.5-point home favorite against the Hawks.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns seamlessly fit together and have emerged as one of the league's best guard-big duos, helping the Knicks garner the best offensive rating in the NBA. But the team has sacrificed defense for incredible offensive production: New York sits near the bottom half of the league in defensive rating, a rarity for a Tom Thibodeau-coached squad.
The Hawks are having an encouraging campaign after missing the playoffs last season. They've won six of their last seven and boast emerging wings like Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, and De'Andre Hunter to accompany Trae Young. Young is averaging his fewest points and field goal attempts since he was a rookie, but he leads the NBA in assists with a career-high 12.2 per game and is one of eight Hawks averaging double figures. Still, Atlanta's 19th-ranked defense will have a tough time stopping the Knicks' prolific offense.
The winner of that matchup will face the winner between the Bucks and the Magic in the semifinals. Milwaukee is a 6.5-point home favorite in the quarterfinals, partly because Orlando's odds to win the Cup dropped when Franz Wagner tore his oblique amid the best stretch of his career. He's out indefinitely - and Paolo Banchero continues to miss time with the same injury.
After starting 2-8, the Bucks have won eight of their last 10 and are back in the playoff picture as Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo's chemistry improves. Plus, Khris Middleton made his season debut last week.
Out west, the Mavericks and Thunder meet in one of the best matchups of the NBA Cup. The Thunder are 4.5-point home favorites as the top seed in the West and have the league's best net rating and best defensive rating. Despite Chet Holmgren's extended absence, Oklahoma City has a deep bench and a dynamic scoring duo in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. Isaiah Hartenstein returned from injury and has been everything the Thunder hoped he would be when signing him this summer. He's averaging a double-double and is a daunting defensive presence.
But the Mavs are the NBA's hottest team, winning seven straight with Luka Doncic returning to MVP form. He's averaging 31 points, 10.5 boards, and 9.5 assists in December. Dallas' perfectly balanced roster has the NBA's second-best offensive rating over the last 10 games. This is a battle between the two favorites to win the West, and a rematch of last year's Western Conference semifinals.
The Rockets have been a huge surprise, sitting at 16-8 with the West's third-best record after missing the playoffs last season. Led by Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green, Houston has the perfect blend of young talent and proven veterans, as well as the league's second-best defensive rating.
The Warriors are 2.5-point road underdogs against Houston. Golden State has slipped in the standings after losing six of its last eight. Injuries have contributed to that, but the emergence of Jonathan Kuminga, who has blossomed with an increased role of late, has kept the Warriors in the mix. Golden State still needs a reliable secondary creator to become a true contender, but it can certainly win the NBA Cup with its deep roster.
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.