Is it still possible for the Lakers to go to the NBA Cup 2024 knockout stage?
Does LeBron James and company have a chance to win the NBA Cup again this year? They won the first one in 2023.
Ahead of Tuesday, December 3, the last day of group-stage play, we already know that LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, who won the first NBA Cup in 2023, will not be defending their title this year. Which teams advance to the NBA Cup quarterfinals in 2024? Each conference’s second-place team will advance to the round of eight along with the six group winners. However, since the Lakers have already finished their NBA Cup campaign, they have no chance of falling into either bracket.
The Lakers’ 2024 NBA Cup hopes dead
While 22 teams still have one group game left to play, the Californians are one of eight who have already completed their four matchups in the competition’s initial phase. Opening victories over the San Antonio Spurs (120-115) and the Utah Jazz (124-118) offered hope of progression to the quarterfinals, but back-to-back defeats to the Phoenix Suns (100-127) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (93-101) means it’s already all over for LeBron and Co