NEW YORK — The defending NBA Cup champion Milwaukee Bucks will play their group-stage games in this season’s tournament against the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets, the league announced Wednesday.
The league unveiled the groups for the third year of the tournament, which tips off Oct. 31. Group play continues through Nov. 28.
Quarterfinals will be Dec. 9 and 10 with the semifinals Dec. 13 in Las Vegas. The championship game — which won’t count toward the season record and statistics for either team — is Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.
In group play, each team will have two road and two home games. Teams that do not reach the quarterfinals or semifinals will have added to their schedules matchups against two other teams that also did not qualify for the NBA Cup playoffs, pushing the season to the full 82 games.
Quarterfinal and semifinal games will count toward the regular season for the teams involved.
Full schedules will be announced in August, coinciding with the rest of the NBA’s schedule rollout for the 2025-26 season.
East Group A
Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers
Atlanta Hawks
Toronto Raptors
Washington Wizards
East Group B
Boston Celtics
Detroit Pistons
Orlando Magic
Brooklyn Nets
Philadelphia 76ers
East Group C
Milwaukee Bucks
New York Knicks
Chicago Bulls
Miami Heat
Charlotte Hornets
West Group A
Oklahoma City Thunder
Minnesota Timberwolves
Sacramento Kings
Phoenix Suns
Utah Jazz
West Group B
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies
Dallas Mavericks
New Orleans Pelicans
West Group C
Houston Rockets
Denver Nuggets
Golden State Warriors
Portland Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs
Originally Published: July 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM CDT