2025 NBA Cup Odds: Raptors can clinch East Group A with win on Friday

For the first time since the NBA Cup was established in 2023, the Toronto Raptors can advance to the knockout stage with a win over the visiting Washington Wizards on Friday night.

Here’s what you need to know.

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NBA Cup

Toronto is lumped into East Group A of the NBA Cup with Cleveland, Atlanta, Indiana and Washington. The Raptors are the only undefeated team in the group at 2-0.

Toronto will clinch the group on Friday and become the first team to advance to the knockout round with a win over the Wizards, combined with a Pacers loss against the Cavaliers.

The Dinos boast a plus-23 point differential through two NBA Cup games, the fourth best mark in the league. Toronto secured double-digit wins against both Atlanta (138-118) and Cleveland (112-101).

The NBA Cup consists of three groups in each conference. The six group winners and one wild-card team from each conference (best record among second place teams) advance to the knockout round.

The knockout rounds are single elimination games, with the quarterfinals (Dec. 9-10), semifinals (Dec. 13) and championship (Dec. 16).

Toronto Raptors

Winning East Group A in the NBA Cup would be another feather in the cap for a surprisingly strong start to the season for the Raptors. Toronto is riding a five-game win streak and sits second in the Eastern Conference with a 10-5 record.

The team’s strong start to the NBA Cup is unchartered territory after they went 1-3 in the group stage in back-to-back years. Now a win against 1-13 Washington and a loss from 2-13 Indiana against 10-6 Cleveland will guarantee the Raptors make the knockout round for the first time.