The Emirates NBA Cup doesn’t always indicate who the best teams in the league for the season will be, but in 2025, the Western Conference bracket features two of the toughies. Last night in the completion of quarterfinals action for the annual tournament, the Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs downed the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving an epic OKC versus San Antonio for Saturday’s semi-finals.
Phoenix never had a chance against the reigning champs. Oklahoma City pounded
them 38-23 in the first quarter, then did it again in the second (36-25) and again in the third (36-24).
Ignoring the pleas from assorted onlookers, the Thunder also won the fourth on their way to a 138-89 victory. I guess they won’t be happy until they own every honor in the league?
The Spurs weren’t quite so dominant against the Lakers. L.A. won the fourth quarter. But even without Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio prevailed 132-119. Stephon Castle had 30 against a Lakers defense that has been typecast as porous and lived up to that billing.
The Thunder and Spurs will face each other on Saturday, along with the winners in the Eastern Conference bracket, the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic.
