Emirates NBA Cup 2024: Predictions, odds for NBA's in-season tournament
The NBA's second annual in-season tournament kicks off Tuesday, Nov. 12. The Los Angeles Lakers will look to defend their title in the inaugural tournament, but this year brings a flurry of new hurdles, including an undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers team.
With $500,000 on the line for the winning team, you can bet every team in the league is interested in bringing home the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup, but which teams are the most likely to bring it home? Here is who experts are predicting to win the 2024 Emirates Cup.
Predictions for 2024 Emirates Cup:
Steven Aschburner, NBA.com: Oklahoma City will not make it out of group stage
Aschburner writes, "I would have gone with OKC to advance if not for Chet Holmgren’s pelvic fracture suffered on Sunday. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards is ripe for the Las Vegas stage and the Suns are the cream of the crop. Group C is rugged but imagine the NBA’s delight at getting Luka Dončić and Stephen Curry into the Knockout Round."
Jonathan Von Tobel, VSiN: Cleveland Cavaliers to win Emirates Cup
Von Tobel writes, "Cleveland is a massive favorite to make it to the knockout stage, either as a group winner or a wild card. If it cannot beat Boston in its road meeting in group play, it has the opportunity to build up its point differential in group play contests against Chicago, Atlanta and Washington. Even a road trip in the first round of the elimination stage – if they must travel – is not daunting for the Cavaliers in a weak Eastern Conference. Cleveland has a very clear path to Las Vegas."
Damian Lillard: Grizzlies to win West Group C
West Group C is considered the most daunting of any group in the 2024 Emirates Cup. The group features the reigning Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks, the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, and Lillard's pick, the Memphis Grizzlies. Although the Grizzlies currently have a worse record (7-4) than the Nuggets (7-3) and Warriors (8-2), Lillard likes Memphis to advance to the knockout stage above everyone else. Even crazier, Lillard doesn't believe any of the other teams in this group will earn the West's wild card spot either. He believes the Lakers, in Group B, will earn a spot in the knockout stage.
Bailey Bassett, ClutchPoints: Dallas to take early lead in Group C
Bassett did not provide predictions for the entire NBA Cup, but rather the first day of NBA Cup play on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Bassett believes the Mavericks will defeat the Golden State Warriors 114-113 that day to take a lead in the very daunting West Group C. Bassett also believes the Celtics, Heat, Hornets, Knicks, Bucks, Suns, and Timberwolves will all win their Tuesday matchups.
2024 Emirates Cup odds:
*Odds via BetMGM as of Sunday evening
- Boston Celtics (+425)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (+550)
- New York Knicks (+800)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (+800)
- Golden State Warriors (+1200)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+1400)
- Dallas Mavericks (+1400)
- Phoenix Suns (+1800)
- Denver Nuggets (+2000)
- Milwaukee Bucks (+2200)
- Los Angeles Lakers (+2200)
- Indiana Pacers (+2500)
- Philadelphia 76ers (+3000)
- Miami Heat (+3000)
- Sacramento Kings (+3500)
- Houston Rockets (+3500)
- Los Angeles Clippers (+4000)
- Orlando Magic (+6000)
- Memphis Grizzlies (+6600)
- New Orleans Pelicans (+10000)
- Atlanta Hawks (+15000)
- San Antonio Spurs (+15000)
- Charlotte Hornets (+15000)
- Detroit Pistons (+25000)
- Toronto Raptors (+30000)
- Chicago Bulls (+30000)
- Utah Jazz (+30000)
- Brooklyn Nets (+30000)
- Washington Wizards (+30000)
- Portland Trail Blazers (+30000)
Bet on the 2024 Emirates Cup with BetMGM