Houston Rockets NBA Cup group stage, Digi Mart USA News: The Houston Rockets return to NBA Cup group play on Friday night against the Utah Jazz. Houston is in West Group A and enters the game with the best overall record of the five teams in the group at 9-3, ahead of the Denver Nuggets at 6-4.
The Dallas Mavericks, at 7-5, and the Phoenix Suns, at 5-6, are competing for the final play-in spot. The Jazz, at 1-11, have the worst record in the group and are also trying to avoid reduced odds for the number one pick in the 2027 Draft.
Houston’s only Cup game so far was a 116-111 road loss to Dallas on October 30. Alperen Şengün did not play in that game. Kyrie Irving scored 35 points for Dallas and Cooper Flagg added 33, while Kevin Durant scored 28 and Jabari Smith Jr.
scored 22 for Houston.
Group standings depend heavily on point differential. The Nuggets beat Phoenix by seven points, so Houston would need to win by at least 13 points to pass Denver for second place, and Utah would need to win by at least 20 points.
The Mavericks currently lead the group at 2-0.
Group leaders advance directly to the knockout stage, and each conference also has two wildcard spots for the best runner-up from its three groups. According to the source, it is too early to judge Houston’s wildcard chances, and the Rockets would need Dallas to lose at least one of its two remaining games against Denver and Phoenix to have a realistic path to the top of the group.
