The Oklahoma City Thunder are off to an excellent start to the season. They are 10-2 in their first 12 games, which has them as the first seed in the Western Conference However, the team recently lost star center Chet Holmgren due to an injury that will keep him out for at least two months.

For the second consecutive season, the NBA will have an in-season tournament during the 2024-25 campaign. Officially branded the Emirates NBA Cup, all 30 teams around the league will compete for a chance to win a championship and prize money.

After an 0-3 start to the week, the Timberwolves have one more chance to notch a win as they head to Sacramento to face the Kings. The Wolves simply can’t afford to lose this game if they want to compete for the NBA Cup and maintain a semblance of pride.

The Thunder will tip off their first NBA Cup game on Friday and could make an early-season run after establishing themselves as a contender last season. In its second edition, known as the In-Season Tournament last season,