The hardwood is set to heat up as the Oklahoma City Thunder are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks in the taut thrill of the NBA Cup quarterfinals knockout round. The playoff tension is palatable as only one will emerge to continue their championship quest.

Yesterday, a bevy of games concluded the group play, leaving five teams grasping their tickets to the quarterfinals with the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Thunder sealing their spots in emphatic fashion. Notably, the Thunder thundered past the Utah Jazz with a commanding 133-106 victory, according to News 9. Starting from the quarterfinals onwards, it's a do or die situation — single elimination will brutally cut the contenders down until the semifinals teams jet off to Las Vegas for the showdown.

The star power in the upcoming rounds is not something to easily shrug off, with the likes of Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic ready to dazzle on the court. As reported by The Washington Post, these athletes have successfully marshalled their teams through the fray, right to the knockout stages.

The quest for NBA Cup glory saw last-minute scrambles and thrill-packed finishes as yesterday's action unfolded. It was a night where 13 hopefuls skirmished for five golden slots. "After the Bucks, Knicks, Magic, Thunder and Mavs punched the last 5 tickets to the Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, the Quarterfinals (Dec. 10-11) are on the clock," read a coverage from NBA.com. And while the Mavericks clinched their berth via a dramatic rally, the Denver Nuggets' similarly riveting comeback reshuffled standings and kept fans on the edge of their seats.