With Group Play of the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup tipping off Oct. 31, we’re breaking down each group as they prepare for opening night, beginning with West Group B.

West Group B features three playoff teams from last season – the Lakers, Clippers and Grizzlies, who were each eliminated in the first round – as well as two lottery teams in the Pelicans and Mavericks, the latter of which won the Draft Lottery and selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick.

While none of the five teams in West Group B made it out of Group Play last season, two teams in this group reached the Knockouts in 2023. The Pelicans and Lakers met in the semifinals, which the Lakers dominated on their way to winning in inaugural in-season competition. Five players from that 2023 championship team remain i

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