Schedule update: Spurs to face Portland, Minnesota following NBA Cup elimination
The Spurs will face two teams they have already beaten this year in updated schedule.
With the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinalists decided, the NBA has provided updated regular season schedules for the 22 teams that did not make it. That includes the Spurs after their loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, and as a result, they will now head to Portland to face the Trail Blazers on Friday, Dec. 13 (9:00 PM CT) before returning home to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, Dec. 15 (7:00 PM CT).
NBA schedule update ⬇️
The 22 teams that did not qualify for the Quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup have been assigned two regular-season games that will be played on Dec. 12 or 13 and Dec. 15 or 16. pic.twitter.com/o9hdY52LFP
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 4, 2024
For the eight the teams that did make the Cup tournament in Las Vegas, the quarterfinals and semifinals count as regular season games, while the Finals is a glorified 83rd game that does not count in the standings for the two finalists. The four teams who lose in the quarterfinals will play one game against one of the other three teams on Dec. 15 or 16 to reach 82 regular season games. (You can see all the scenarios if you open the tweet above and expand the image.)
The Spurs would have advanced to the quarterfinals had they won in Phoenix last night, but unfortunately their offense went ice cold, especially from three just one game after hitting a franchise-record 23 threes in Sacramento. (That’s the law of averages hard at work for you.) Instead, the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced from Group B after blowing out the Utah Jazz last night, which also eliminated the Spurs from any very slight chance they had at being a wildcard team. Still, their 2-2 record, including a surprising win against the Thunder, was an improvement from last season’s 0-4 performance in Cup play.
The Spurs have already faced both the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers once this season, both wins at home. Most notably, the game against the Wolves on November 2 was when Gregg Popovich suffered from what would later be revealed as a minor stroke before the game, and he has been away from the team as he rehabilitates ever since. Mitch Johnson has been the interim head coach in his absence.
