LAS VEGAS — Welcome to the Las Vegas stage of the NBA Cup Ladder, where the serious candidates are suddenly slimmer than the odds at the blackjack tables. There are only a handful of teams left — four, to be exact — and a handful of contenders for NBA Cup MVP.

Well, more than four. But, point made — the pecking order is becoming more unforgiving than weeks ago, when the entire league was invited to the Cup party.

It’s the Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks from the East, San Antonio Spurs vs. the Avengers in the West. Actually, it’s the Oklahoma City Thunder who, with just one loss all season, are playing like superheroes.

The Semifinals are Saturday, the Championship is Tuesday , and in these situations, the best players usually rush to the rescue. Two years ago, it was Anthony Davis

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