The 2026 NBA Cup is set to launch on October 30, bringing a thrilling in-season tournament across all 30 teams in the league.
This competition, which began in 2023, has similarities to in-season tournaments seen in European soccer. While it may not hold the prestige of the NBA Finals, it adds an additional layer of excitement and provides financial incentives for the teams that excel.
What to Expect from the NBA Cup
The NBA Cup consists of a series of matches played during the regular season. Each game contributes to both the tournament standings and the traditional season records. This format essentially allows teams to compete for two classifications simultaneously.
All participating teams are placed into groups based on their previous season's records. This season, they will play four “Cup Nights,” going up against every other team in their group—two games at home and two on the road—from October 30 to November 27.
Structure of the Tournament
At the conclusion of the group stage, eight teams will advance to the Knockout Rounds. This includes the top team from each of the six groups and two wild card teams from both conferences that have the best records. The Knockout Rounds will feature a single-elimination format in the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Championship games.
Key dates include the Quarterfinals on December 4-5 and the Semifinals on December 8-9, with the championship match occurring on December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Group Breakdown and Previous Winners
The league organizes teams into six groups, with three from the Eastern Conference and three from the Western Conference. The groups for this season are:
- West Group A: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz
- West Group B: LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder
- West Group C: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs
- East Group A: Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
- East Group B: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers
- East Group C: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
In the previous years, the winners of the NBA Cup were:
- 2023: Los Angeles Lakers
- 2024: Milwaukee Bucks
- 2025: New York Knicks
Notably, the Knicks ended the trend of teams that had won the Cup and not the Finals in the same season, as they achieved both titles last year.
Kickoff Games Scheduled
With the NBA Cup officially starting, fans can look forward to an exciting lineup of games on October 30. Here’s the schedule for the opening matches:
- Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards – 7 pm EST (live on NBA League Pass and local channels)
- Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics – 7:30 pm EST (live on NBA League Pass and local channels)
- Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 pm EST (live on NBA League Pass and local channels)
- Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 pm EST (live on NBA League Pass and local channels)
- New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers – 7:30 pm EST (live on Amazon Prime Video)
- Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat – 8 pm EST (live on NBA League Pass and local channels)
- Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks – 8 pm EST (live on NBA League Pass and local channels)
- Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves – 8 pm EST (live on NBA League Pass and local channels)
- Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors – 10 pm EST (live on Amazon Prime Video)
- Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns – 10 pm EST (live on NBA League Pass and local channels)
Fans can expect an entertaining tournament ahead with numerous exciting matchups. Be ready to cheer for your favorite team as they battle for the coveted NBA Cup!