The 2026 NBA Cup kicks off on Friday, October 30, featuring all 30 NBA teams competing in the Group Play phase. The tournament will conclude with the championship game on Friday, December 11, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
During Group Play, each team will compete in four games. The top eight teams move on to the single-elimination Knockout Rounds, consisting of the six group winners and one wild card from each conference.
Important Dates for the 2026 NBA Cup:
- Group Play: October 30; November 6, 13, 20, 24, 25, and 27
- Quarterfinals: December 4-5
- Semifinals: December 8 or 9
- Championship: December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
The NBA has also unveiled the schedules for Opening Night and Christmas Day, highlighting exciting matchups, including LeBron James facing off against the New York Knicks. Analysts Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes discuss if the NBA’s scheduling hits the mark.
Group Play Matchups on October 30 Include:
- Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards at 7 p.m. ET
- Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Detroit Pistons vs. Brooklyn Nets at 7:30 p.m. ET
- New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat at 8 p.m. ET
- Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks at 8 p.m. ET
- LA Clippers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves at 8 p.m. ET
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET
- Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns at 10 p.m. ET
The article also details subsequent Group Play games scheduled throughout November, with various key matchups brewing across both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
2026 NBA Cup Groups are as follows:
Eastern Conference
- East Group A: Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets
- East Group B: New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers
- East Group C: Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
Western Conference
- West Group A: Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz
- West Group B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies
- West Group C: San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings
Each team will face off once against every other team within its group. The six group winners advance to the Knockout Rounds, along with the best second-place team from each conference. Should teams be tied, point differential serves as the primary tiebreaker after head-to-head results.
All games during Group Play, the quarterfinals, and semifinals count toward the regular 82-game season standings, except for the championship, which is a standalone game.
The 2026 NBA Cup finals will be held on December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, while the quarterfinals and semifinals will take place in the home markets of NBA teams.
Last year’s NBA Cup was won by the New York Knicks, who defeated the San Antonio Spurs 124-113. Jalen Brunson earned the MVP honors, and the Knicks made history by becoming the first squad to clinch both the NBA Cup and the NBA Championship in a single season.
Previous NBA Cup Champions:
- 2025: New York Knicks over San Antonio Spurs (124-113)
- 2024: Milwaukee Bucks over Oklahoma City Thunder (97-81)
- 2023: Los Angeles Lakers over Indiana Pacers (123-109)
Fan Take:
The NBA Cup adds a thrilling new layer of competition that keeps fans engaged beyond the traditional regular season, offering fresh rivalries and high-stakes games. This format could reshape how we view the NBA calendar, bringing excitement and prestige to midseason matchups while giving teams more opportunities to compete for hardware.
Source: www.foxsports.com
