November 24th 2024.
After a hard-fought victory against the Pelicans, the Warriors received some unexpected help from the Nuggets' loss to Dallas on Friday night, securing their spot as the first team in the league to advance to the knockout round of the NBA Cup. Despite their small margin of victory in their three games, the Warriors have proven themselves as winners of the West Group C, and their determination and skill have earned them a spot in the quarterfinal game.
Although the details of their upcoming quarterfinal game are still to be determined, the Warriors are eagerly awaiting their chance to compete on either December 10th or 11th. With one more group stage game against the Nuggets remaining, the team is focused on maintaining their winning streak and securing a spot in the single-elimination knockout round.
Head coach Steve Kerr and several players have expressed their motivation to win the NBA Cup, as it comes with prize money for both players and coaches. Brandin Podziemski summed it up best after the Pelicans win, stating, "We're going for the money, we want the money." The Warriors have already defeated the Mavericks, Pelicans, and Grizzlies in group play, and their success in the knockout round could provide valuable experience for their less experienced players in a highly competitive environment.
Last year, the Warriors fell short in the group stage after blowing a 24-point lead to the Kings. However, this year, they are determined to carry their momentum from the NBA Cup through the rest of the season. The Lakers, who won last year's In-Season Tournament (now known as the NBA Cup), were unable to maintain their success throughout the season. But the Warriors are focused on their goal of winning the entire tournament, with wing Andrew Wiggins stating, "That's our goal, we want to win the whole thing. We feel we have a good chance. We have the squad for it."
In other news, the French phenom Victor Wembanyama is set to return for the Spurs game after missing the previous three games with a knee injury. The Warriors will also be playing their second back-to-back of the season, having previously swept the Pelicans in two straight home games. There are a few minor injuries on the team, but players such as Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Gary Payton II, and Lindy Waters III are expected to play.
Andrew Wiggins has been on fire recently, scoring a total of 79 points in the past three games and shooting an impressive 28-for-43 from the floor. Meanwhile, former Warrior Chris Paul has been a key player for the Spurs, averaging 10.8 points and 8.6 assists per game and helping lift the team from the bottom of the lottery to a .500 record. At 36 years old, he is the second-oldest active player in the league, behind only LeBron James.
However, the Spurs are currently playing without their legendary coach Gregg Popovich, who suffered a mild stroke earlier this month. Kerr, who has been close friends with Popovich for many years, has been in touch with him and has expressed his support and well-wishes for his recovery. "He means the world to me," Kerr said in a recent interview. "It's tough to know that he's going through this medical situation. I think about him all the time."
Finally, in a last-minute update, Jonathan Kuminga was unable to play in the Spurs game due to illness. The team is hoping for a speedy recovery for the young player.
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