The GIST: With the four-game NBA Cup group stage in the rearview mirror, we’re in the midst of four do-or-die quarter-final matchups. Swap your holiday countdown cal for a basketball — ’tis the (NBA) season after all.

Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder secure semifinal berths: Starting in the Eastern Conference (EC), the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks booked the first ticket to Saturday’s semis, beating the shorthanded No. 4 seed Orlando Magic 114–109 last night as Giannis Antetokounmpo (pronounced ah-det-oh-KOON-boh) and his partner-in-hoops Dame Lillard dropped a combined 65 points.

• The second game of the night was a rematch of last year’s Western Conference (WC) finals — but the No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder had the last laugh this time around, topping the No. 4 seed Dallas Mavericks 118–104 behind 39 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Previewing tonight’s games: The plucky No. 3 seed Atlanta Hawks weren’t expected to even make it out of EC group play, but anything can happen on these kooky Cup courts. The Hawks will look to keep flying in what should be a high-scoring affair against the No. 2 seed NY Knicks and their league-best offense tonight at 7 p.m. ET. Defense? Never heard of her.

• On the flip side, D will be the name of the game in tonight’s 9:30 p.m. ET WC matchup between the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets and No. 3 seed Golden State Warriors, two of the staunchest defenses in the league. Forget Eras Tour tickets, this is the great war.

The best way to invest in women athletes? By watching them. Catching games and following along on social media are game-changers for growing women’s sports, but the lack of mainstream media coverage makes it hard to know when and how to tune in.

• That’s where Ally’s Sports Spotlight came in. This monthly series in our newsletter and on our socials spotlighted all the hottest events in the women’s game and exactly where to watch them.

Ally has been putting their money where it matters, championing women’s sports with their 50/50 Media Pledge and all-star sponsorship roster. Leveling the playing field, together.

🎓🏐 NCAA women’s volleyball: Championship tournament — Ongoing — ESPN2

• The national tourney quarter-finals begin tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET and all four No. 1 seeds — Pitt, Louisville, Penn State, and Nebraska — are still in the mix, making this round can’t-miss for volleyball fans old and new. Diggin’ it.

🎓🏀 NCAA women’s basketball: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 8 Notre Dame — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — ESPN

• The Huskies will be without injured grad student Azzi Fudd for tomorrow’s highly anticipated top-10 throwdown, but there’ll still be starpower aplenty on the court, with UConn icon Paige Bueckers squaring up against junior Olivia Miles, another shining collegiate standout who’s expected to declare for the 2025 WNBA Draft.

🏒 NHL: Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Winnipeg Jets — Tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET — ESPN+

• Thanks in large part to goaltender Adin Hill, the Pacific Division–leading Golden Knights are riding a three-game win streak heading into tomorrow’s contest against a Jets squad who started the season hot, but have lost six of their last 10 games. Is a takeoff turnaround in sight?

🏈 NFL: LA Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — Amazon Prime

• The NFC West is the most thrilling division in football right now, with just two games separating the first- and last-place teams. That means there’s a lot on the line when the bottom-of-the-division (and injury-plagued) 49ers host QB Matthew Stafford and the second-place Rams. No pressure.

In sports (and in life), the final score is only part of the story. If you’re looking to level up your sports fandom beyond touchdowns and tipoffs, we have just the thing: The GIST’s women’s sports business newsletter.

• Just like this newsletter, sports biz gives you “the gist” of what’s happening in the business of women’s sports, three times a week.
• From high-profile interviews to interpreting the latest groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement, subscribing to sports biz is a must.

This ESPN 30 for 30 doc on the infamous 2011 Vancouver riots. Equal parts sports drama and social reflection, it’s a must-see.

Sports tix. Surprise a special someone in your life with the gift that keeps on giving.

The Christmas Clause: A Sweet Holiday Hockey Romance by Meg Easton. Read this warm and cozy novel along with The GIST Book Club on Fable.