Here’s a summary of the NBA Cup games that took place on Friday, November 8, 2025, along with key takeaways.
Key Takeaways:
- The Milwaukee Bucks continue their dominance in NBA Cup group play, remaining undefeated at 9-0.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder are determined to return to the NBA Cup final after falling short last year, starting strong with a decisive win.
- The Toronto Raptors are on a hot streak, improving to 2-0 in group play with their fourth consecutive double-digit victory.
- The Detroit Pistons extend their winning streak to five games with a strong NBA Cup opener, fueled by outstanding performances from Cunningham and Duren.
Game Summaries
The Milwaukee Bucks initiated their defense of the NBA Cup title with a commanding 126-110 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Giannis Antetokounmpo nearly secured a triple-double, amassing 41 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists. This win extended Milwaukee’s undefeated streak in group play to 9-0 since the NBA Cup’s inception in the 2023-24 season. In the previous year’s tournament, the Bucks were defeated by the Indiana Pacers in the semi-finals, but emerged victorious against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the championship game. Notably, Antetokounmpo was named the NBA Cup MVP last season and holds the distinction of being the only player to be selected to the All-NBA Cup team in each edition. Myles Turner contributed 23 points, eight rebounds, and four steals for the Bucks (6-3), while Ryan Rollins added 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals. For the Bulls (6-2), Matas Buzelis recorded 20 points and eight rebounds, while Josh Giddey posted 16 points, 14 assists, and seven rebounds. Chicago had previously defeated the New York Knicks in their NBA Cup opener on October 31st.
The Oklahoma City Thunder began their journey to reclaim a spot in the NBA Cup title game with a resounding 132-101 triumph over the Sacramento Kings. The Thunder, aiming to avenge their loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the previous NBA Cup final before securing the NBA championship last season, showcased their determination. Isaiah Hartenstein delivered a career-best performance with 33 points and also grabbed 19 rebounds, dished out three assists, and blocked three shots. This win helped the Thunder bounce back from their first loss of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA MVP, contributed 30 points, and Ajay Mitchell provided 18 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, and three steals for Oklahoma City (9-1). Sacramento (3-6) also commenced their NBA Cup campaign with this game, but suffered their most significant defeat of the season. Former Thunder star Russell Westbrook led the Kings with 24 points, nine assists, and six rebounds.
The Toronto Raptors secured their second win in group play with a comeback victory of 109-97 against the Atlanta Hawks. Toronto (5-4) outscored Atlanta by 21 points in the second half, marking their fourth consecutive victory overall, with each win being by double digits. Seven Raptors players reached double-figure scoring, with Brandon Ingram leading the way with 20 points, followed by RJ Barrett with 19 and Immanuel Quickley with 18. Scottie Barnes (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Jakob Poeltl (12 points, 10 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles for Toronto. Jalen Johnson led Atlanta (4-5) with 21 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributed 20 points as the Hawks fell to 1-1 in group play.
The Detroit Pistons initiated their group play action with a dominant 125-107 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, fueled by outstanding performances from Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. Cunningham scored 34 points and dished out 10 assists, while Duren recorded 30 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals, extending Detroit’s (7-2) winning streak to five games. Michael Porter Jr. scored 28 points for the Nets, who dropped to 1-8, matching the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the NBA. Prior to the game, Brooklyn announced that their second-leading scorer, Cam Thomas (21.4 points per game), would be sidelined for three to four weeks due to a left hamstring strain.