Denver Nuggets drawn into difficult group in NBA Cup
If it was soccer, the NBA Cup’s West Group C would be called the group of death.
The NBA’s in-season competition returns for its third season, and the Nuggets once again share a group with some of the heaviest hitters in the Western Conference. Denver and Houston headline the group, which also includes Golden State, San Antonio and Portland. The Rockets (54.5) and Nuggets (53.5) have the third- and fourth-highest lines for regular-season wins, while Golden State (47.5) is ninth, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
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The Thunder, Timberwolves, Kings, Suns and Jazz make up the West’s Group A, while Group B consists of the Lakers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Mavericks and Pelicans.
Teams are divided into six pots based on their record from the previous season, and teams are randomly drawn into groups of five.
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The group stage starts on Oct. 31 and runs until Nov. 28. Teams will play every other team in their group once. The winner of each group and one wild card from each conference advance to the quarterfinals, which will be played in NBA markets on Dec. 9 and 10. The semifinalists head to Las Vegas for games on Dec. 13, and the championship is set for Dec. 16.
The Nuggets haven’t advanced out of the group stage in the two previous NBA Cup runs. Maybe the third time’s the charm.