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A Triple-Double, a 132-Point Outburst and the NBA Cup's Wildest Night Yet
Carmen Boozer's triple-double powered a Grizzlies blowout, the Pelicans dropped 132 on the Kings, and Atlanta edged Cleveland in a track meet as NBA Cup group play opened with some of the season's most lopsided and highest-scoring games.
One night into group play, the 2026-27 NBA Cup has already produced some of the most extreme box scores of the young season.
In New Orleans, the Pelicans put up 132 points in a 132-120 win over the Sacramento Kings — among the most points scored by any team so far this season. Zion Williamson racked up five steals to go with his production, while Jordan Fears posted a 22-point, 13-assist, 8-rebound, 4-block near-quadruple-double. Sacramento got a strong individual night from De'Aaron Fox Jr.-style scoring punch Dylan Acuff Jr., who put up 34 points, 14 assists and 6 rebounds, and Domantas Sabonis grabbed a game- and day-high 15 rebounds — it just wasn't enough against New Orleans' offense.
Memphis delivered the night's most lopsided result, routing Portland 124-103 behind a triple-double from rookie forward Cameron "Carmen" Boozer — 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists — the only triple-double recorded across the league that night. Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 24 points and 9 rebounds in the loss, and center Donovan Clingan swatted five shots, but Portland's offense never found a rhythm against Memphis's defense. The Grizzlies' 21-point margin of victory was the largest of the night; Portland's 103 points ranked among the season's lower totals for a single team.
Atlanta survives a shootout
Atlanta needed every bit of a 114-111 win over Cleveland in the night's closest game, with Onyeka Okongwu posting a 29-point, 12-rebound double-double and Nickeil Alexander-Walker adding 25 points on four 3-pointers. James Harden kept the Cavaliers in it with 24 points, and Sam Merrill and Andrew Wiggins each hit four 3s of their own, but Cleveland couldn't close the gap down the stretch. The two teams combined for 225 points, among the highest-scoring games of the season so far.
THE LEAGUE'S NEWEST TOURNAMENT IS ALREADY PRODUCING SOME OF ITS WILDEST BOX SCORES
Group play continues through November, with teams jockeying for the knockout rounds and a championship final that will again be played away from Las Vegas's usual host role this cycle. For Memphis and New Orleans, Wednesday's results were exactly the kind of statement wins a young team wants in a tournament designed to matter from night one. For Portland and Sacramento, it's a long group stage ahead.