The group play stage of NBA Cup play is nearly complete, and the LA Clippers are still in the mix to advance to the knockout round. They have completed three of their four games of group play, with the final one set to tip off Tuesday evening when the Clippers host the Portland Trail Blazers at Intuit Dome.
Of their previous three group play contests, LA has come away with one win and two losses, defeating the Sacramento Kings at home and falling to the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves on the road. Coming away with a win against Portland will be vital for the Clippers' chances of advancing.
However, winning on Tuesday will not guarantee the Clippers a spot in the knockout stage. They will still need some help from others around the league in order to find themselves competing for the NBA Cup trophy in Las Vegas. On Monday, the official NBA Communications account on X released the exact clinching scenarios for Western Conference teams on Tuesday.
Which two West teams will join the @HoustonRockets and @warriors in the Knockout Rounds of the #EmiratesNBACup?
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 2, 2024
The following scenarios are applicable for the final day of Group Play games on Tuesday ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/239PlS8gcM
Clippers will need help to reach knockout round
As it currently stands, the Houston Rockets have already clinched the Clippers' group, West Group A. What that means is that for LA to advance to the knockout stage, they will have to get in as a wild card team. For those who have forgotten, one wild card spot is awarded in each conference to the team who finishes with the best record in group play that also finished second in their group.
What this means for the Clippers is that they will not only have to win against the Trail Blazers, but they will need help from some of the other teams competing on Tuesday evening. LA needs a win in regulation, an Oklahoma City Thunder loss, a Dallas Mavericks loss, as well as the tiebreaker over the second place teams in West Groups B and C in order to advance.
In order to secure that crucial tiebreaker, the Clippers must beat Portland by at least 24 points assuming the Denver Nuggets also win against the Golden State Warriors. Yes, it is all a bit complicated, but the point being that LA still has a path to Vegas if everything falls into place.
Should they win by the correct margin and they secure the wild card spot, the Clippers will be one of the eight teams in the mix for the NBA Cup. If they do not, LA will have two additional regular season games added to their schedule by the league.