The NBA Cup’s second season of existence has brought competitiveness and meaningful action across the league. The Oklahoma City Thunder put together a 3-1 record in the Group Stage to advance as one of eight teams around the NBA to make it to the Knockout Rounds.

From there, Oklahoma City played an important game on Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks, with the winner set to advance to Las Vegas for the Semifinal round of the NBA Cup, while the loser would be eliminated from the tournament.

This game was significant for multiple reasons. For one, Dallas defeated the Thunder 4-2 in the second round of the playoffs last season before ultimately going on to the NBA Finals and falling to the Boston Celtics. Furthermore, these two teams matched up earlier in the 2024-25 campaign, with the Mavs getting the two-point victory.

After losing to the Mavericks in the playoffs and then dropping the first contest between these teams this season, Oklahoma City entered Tuesday’s NBA Cup game with a different level of intensity. With a trip to Las Vegas and additional prize money on the line, the Thunder put together a convincing win by a final score of 118-104.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was phenomenal in this game, scoring 39 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists. Conversely, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving struggled for Dallas, scoring a combined 33 points on 29 shot attempts. Isaiah Hartenstein was also a game-altering presence, making a tremendous impact after the Thunder were dominated in the paint in November’s matchup in Dallas, given there wasn’t a healthy center on the roster at that time.

Following that win, OKC punched its ticket to the NBA Cup Semifinals in Las Vegas, with a game against the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

The Thunder and Rockets played less than two weeks ago in a thriller that resulted in a three-point Houston victory. This time around, Oklahoma City will look to get revenge just like it did against Dallas on Tuesday.

A win in Saturday’s contest against the Rockets would mean the Thunder would advance to the NBA Cup Finals. Interestingly enough, that game wouldn’t count toward the team’s regular season record, given it acts as an additional 83rd game. Regardless, it would serve as another quality experience for the Thunder and be a game of high stakes, which is important for a young team like OKC with a desire to make it to the NBA Finals this season and win a championship in June. Furthermore, players on the team that wins the NBA Cup earn $514,971 each.

Before the Thunder has a chance to make that happen, Saturday’s game against the Rockets will need to result in a win. While Oklahoma City will be the favorite in that matchup, it will be an ultra-competitive game that could go either way. If the Thunder can get the win, the team will move to 20-5 on the season and build even more of a cushion as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference standings.