The NBA Cup last eight is set: Heat v Magic, Knicks v Raptors, Suns v Thunder, Spurs v Lakers

Miami Heads East To Face Orlando, New York Tangles With Toronto, Oklahoma City Meets Phoenix Again In Quarterfinals - And Lakers Get Revisited.

The quarterfinal field for the NBA Cup has been set after a thrilling night of action that saw several teams secure their spots in the prestigious competition. For the Heat and Magic, who will face off in Orlando, it's a chance to rekindle a Sunshine State rivalry that dates back to 1993-94 when the first matchup between the two teams took place five times this season. The Knicks, meanwhile, get another shot at the Raptors after beating Milwaukee on Friday night, giving them their East wildcard spot.

On the Western Conference side, San Antonio edges Denver in a frantic finish to clinch West Group C and secure a quarter-final place, while Oklahoma City – the defending NBA champions – held off Phoenix to win West Group A. For the Thunder, it's a rematch against the Suns, who went 3-1 in group play to earn their spot.

The quarterfinals will be played on December 9 or 10 and feature some mouthwatering matchups, including Heat v Magic, Knicks v Raptors, and Thunder v Suns. The games count as regular-season fixtures, meaning each of those matchups will occur five times this season – the first time that has happened in the Sunshine State rivalry since 1993-94.

For players on the quarter-final teams, there's more than just bragging rights on the line - a spot in the semifinals comes with a $106,187 payout increase from their previous quarterfinal earnings of $53,903. Players on winning teams can earn as much as $530,933 per player, while two-way players will receive half those amounts if applicable.

The stage is set for an exciting quarterfinals, but for the defending champions, it won't be easy to repeat last year's title, as they face a tough road ahead with their first matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers.

I was just thinking about what I'm gonna make for dinner tonight... think maybe some pasta or stir-fry? Have you guys ever tried making your own pizza from scratch? It's actually pretty fun and customizable! I found this awesome recipe online that uses cauliflower crust instead of traditional dough. We should totally cook it together soon and watch the NBA games while we eat .

I'm actually kinda stoked about this! The NBA Cup is back and it's gonna be lit! I mean, who doesn't love basketball? And these quarterfinal matchups are looking fierce! Miami vs Orlando should be a sick rivalry, and the Knicks vs Raptors is gonna be so intense. And can we talk about how exciting it is that players could win up to $530k?! That's crazy

And I gotta give props to Oklahoma City for making it to the quarterfinals again - they're definitely defending their title well! But, of course, they'll have a tough road ahead against the Lakers. Fingers crossed for them!

So I was thinking... Miami vs Orlando in the first round would be crazy! Both teams are so good and have that amazing rivalry going on. It's gonna be a wild ride to watch these two go head-to-head again, especially since it's not just about bragging rights but also about those major payout increases What do you guys think about this matchup? Should Miami come out on top or is Orlando the team to beat?

I'm so hyped about this NBA Cup quarterfinals ! The matchups are looking fire and I love how some teams got to play each other multiple times this season. It's like, you gotta respect that extra layer of competition . And I feel for OKC & Phoenix, they had a crazy tough group stage but made it out on top . Now, can Lakers finally dethrone the champs?

I'm so hyped about this NBA Cup quarterfinals! The matchups are gonna be insane, especially Heat v Magic and Knicks v Raptors. And can you believe we're getting to see the Lakers again? I know some people love them, but I just can't get on board. Still, it's all about the thrill of competition, right?

And that payout increase is no joke! Players are gonna be rolling in dough if they win it all. Of course, there's still a lot to be decided before then, especially with San Antonio and Oklahoma City getting by in their respective matches. It's gonna be a wild ride!

I'm also loving the fact that we're seeing some old rivalries get rekindled. That Sunshine State thing between the Heat and Magic is always good for some intense action. And let's not forget about the Thunder and Suns, who are basically old friends by now. Rematch time!

Yaaas, can you feel that energy?! The NBA Cup quarterfinals are finally here! I'm low-key excited for Miami vs Orlando - those two teams have such a rich history, and it's gonna be intense! And oh man, the East wildcard matchup between Knicks and Raptors is gonna be lit! But let's not forget about Oklahoma City and Phoenix - that's another epic rivalry brewing! The Lakers are definitely gonna bring the heat against those defending champs... can they pull off a major upset? Either way, I'm hyped for these matchups!

I'm loving this quarterfinal matchup between the Heat and Magic! It's gonna be a real barnburner, especially since they've already played 5 times this season . But for me, it's all about the Lakers vs Oklahoma City - that's like a throwback to the Thunder's championship run last year . I'm also curious to see how the Knicks and Raptors match up again after beating Milwaukee on Friday night . And can't forget about the $106k+ payout for players who make it to the semis? That's some serious bank, fam!

OMG u guys, can we pls make sure we're all being super respectful in our comments? Let's not spam each other w/ typos & extra words . Seriously tho, i'm hyped for this quarterfinals field! Heat vs Magic is gonna be SOOO good ... and those Knicks v Raptors matchups are gonna get intense ! The Lakers coming back into the mix though is a nice twist. I'm rooting for OKC 2 win it all again, they've got that championship spirit ! Can't wait 4 these games on Dec 9/10... fingers crossed we can catch 'em all live

man I'm so down for these matchups, esp with the Heat and Magic reviving that old rivalry . But gotta say, OKC's rematch against PHX is gonna be insane . Those two teams have been going at it all season and I think this time it'll come down to who can outlast the other.

And don't sleep on the Knicks-Raptors battle – those guys are always so evenly matched . As for LA, they're definitely gonna give OKC a run for their money . The Lakers have been quietly rebuilding all season and I think they've got some serious momentum behind them.

But let's be real, the real question is – can anyone stop the Thunder from repeating? It'll be tough for them to overcome that championship hangover, but if anyone can do it...

[Image of Grumpy Cat with a basketball and thinking expression]

I'm loving this NBA Cup quarterfinals lineup! The Heat and Magic rivalry is going to be so intense, especially since they've played each other 5 times already this season . And can you believe the Knicks getting another shot at the Raptors? That's some sweet revenge for them .

I also love how the Western Conference teams are giving it their all – San Antonio and Oklahoma City were both so close to not making it in, but they fought hard to secure their spots . And let's be real, who doesn't want to see the Lakers take on the defending champs? That's going to be a tough one for them .

I'm also curious to see how the teams prepare for these games – with the quarterfinals counting as regular-season fixtures, it's like they're already playing each other 5 times this season. Talk about pressure cooker!

I'm loving the NBA playoffs already! It looks like we've got some epic matchups lined up, and I'm particularly excited to see how the Heat and Magic match up in Orlando - that Sunshine State rivalry is going to be intense . And of course, who doesn't love a good comeback story? Oklahoma City's win over Phoenix was thrilling, and it'll be great to see them take on the Suns again . The Lakers coming back into the picture adds an extra layer of complexity for the Thunder - can they repeat their championship magic or will LA put up a fight ?

I'm so excited for these quarterfinal matchups ! The Heat and Magic games are going to be so intense, especially since it's a 5-time rematch in the Sunshine State rivalry . I love how this format is giving us more regular-season fixtures, too - it's like we're getting extra content out of our favorite teams' seasons .

But what I'm really looking forward to is seeing how the defending champs stack up against the Lakers . It's going to be a tough road ahead for them, and I'm curious to see if they can pull off an upset . The payouts are pretty sweet too - $530k for winning teams? That's some serious motivation !

I don’t usually comment but I think this is gonna be super intense especially with the Lakers coming back into the mix! It's crazy that it's happening again so soon after last season, must mean they've been working hard on rebuilding And the fact that some of these teams have already played each other like 5 times this season is just wild... like what even is a regular season anymore?!

I got no love for the Lakers right now . People always hype 'em up before the playoffs but then they choke. I think they gotta earn that 2nd title by stepping it up this time around . Defending champs shouldn't be given a free pass just 'cause they won last year. You gotta prove you're still good, you know? And let's give it up for the Heat and Magic too! Those guys are gonna bring some heat to that quarterfinals matchup .

omg can you believe these matchups i mean heat vs magic is gonna be insane and knicks v raptors is another huge one but seriously who doesn't love a good rivalry meanwhile okc and phx are gonna go at it again and lakers facing off against the champs is like, how's that for added pressure gotta give props to those quarterfinals payouts tho 106k increase? yeah, that's some serious benjamins

man i'm hyped for these matchups , heat and magic rivalry is gonna get so intense! Knicks getting another shot at raptors after beating milwaukee on friday night is dope , it's like they're trying to make up for lost time. San antonio clinching west group c over denver was insane , those teams went head-to-head three times this season and only san antonio came out on top. oklahoma city holding off phoenix again will be interesting , two teams that have clashed multiple times already in the season. and lakers vs thunder... wow what a matchup

think it's crazy how much money's on the line in these playoffs and the matchups are gonna be so intense can't wait for the quarterfinals to start, gonna be sick to watch all these teams go head-to-head and i'm low-key rooting for the Lakers to pull off that upset against OKC

So I'm thinking the Heat and Magic game is gonna be epic Their rivalry is so old school, it's crazy how much hype there is around it even though they haven't played each other in ages. I'm curious to see if the Magic can finally take down their Sunshine State rivals

And what's up with the Knicks getting another shot at the Raptors? It's like they're trying to make this a thing They have some tough matchups coming up, but I think they might be able to pull it off. The Raptors are always so strong in the playoffs, but maybe they're due for an upset

And can we talk about the Thunder and Suns game? It's like they've been set up for a rematch all season! The Thunder is looking fierce as champions , but the Suns have some serious firepower. This one's gonna be intense