Lakers Learn Quarterfinal Opponent for NBA Cup After Clinching Top Spot in the West

The Los Angeles Lakers became the first team in the Western Conference to secure a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, and on Friday night they finally learned who stands between them and a return to Las Vegas: the San Antonio Spurs, winners of Group C. The matchup is set for December 10 at Crypto Arena.

🔒 How the Lakers Secured Their Berth

Los Angeles punched its ticket on Tuesday (Nov. 25) by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in a battle of unbeaten teams. With all remaining West teams carrying at least one loss, the win clinched qualification with one game to spare.

Only two Western Conference teams advanced undefeated:

• Lakers
• Oklahoma City Thunder

The tiebreaker for best overall campaign came down to point differential — and the defending champions dominated:

• Lakers: +75
• Thunder: +46

With that, LA claimed the conference’s top seed and will host San Antonio, while the Thunder draw the Phoenix Suns on the opposite side of the bracket. The two winners will meet in the semifinals in Las Vegas.

All players from the advancing teams have already been awarded $53,000 for reaching the knockout round.

⚔️ Scouting the Spurs

At 13–5, the San Antonio Spurs enter the quarterfinals as one of the West’s hottest teams, sitting fourth in the overall conference standings — just one win behind the Lakers’ pace.

Their lone NBA Cup loss came against the Golden State Warriors, who did not qualify.

However, the Spurs face a major hurdle: Victor Wembanyama is expected to miss the quarterfinal matchup due to a calf injury. San Antonio has not released a timetable for his return, leaving the team without its generational anchor for one of the biggest games of their season.

Even without their superstar, the Spurs remain disciplined, well-coached, and dangerous — especially with their depth pieces stepping up throughout the tournament.

🏟️ Home Court and What Comes Next

The game will be played in Los Angeles thanks to the Lakers’ superior group-stage campaign. The semifinals and championship game will take place in Las Vegas, where the Lakers hope to return for a chance to defend their crown.

With momentum, home court advantage, and the conference’s best point differential behind them, the Lakers enter the knockout stage in strong form — but San Antonio won’t make it easy.