In the final warm-up games before the NBA Cup quarter-finals, the Suns and Spurs emerged victorious, setting the stage for an exciting tournament. The Phoenix Suns, despite missing their top scorer Devin Booker due to injury, secured a 14-10 record by ending the Timberwolves' winning streak. Mark Williams led the way with 22 points, joining five other double-digit scorers for the Suns. Meanwhile, the Spurs, without their French star Victor Wembanyama, still managed a win with 24 points from Harrison Barnes and 22 from Dylan Harper. The Spurs improved to 16-7, while the Suns are now 14-10. The NBA Cup quarter-finals kick off on Tuesday with Miami at Orlando and New York at Toronto. The host Thunder, with an impressive 23-1 record, will aim to extend their 15-game winning streak when the Suns visit Oklahoma City. At Phoenix, the Suns' Collin Gillespie and Dillon Brooks contributed 19 and 18 points, respectively, despite the latter's Achilles tendon issue. Minnesota's Edwards' late shot brought them within a point, but Gillespie's free throws sealed the deal for the Suns. In New Orleans, Harper's layup secured a 133-132 lead for San Antonio with 9.1 seconds remaining. However, New Orleans' Derik Queen, with a triple-double, almost pulled off a comeback. San Antonio guard Stephon Castle, returning from a hip injury, added 18 points to the Spurs' win. The Indiana Pacers, led by Andrew Nembhard's 28 points and 12 assists, defeated the Sacramento Kings. Russell Westbrook's triple-double for the Kings couldn't prevent the loss. The Pelicans, with their seventh straight loss, missed a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer, falling to 3-22. These final tune-ups have set the stage for an intense NBA Cup quarter-final competition, with teams aiming to fine-tune their strategies and lineups before the tournament begins.
