The 2026 NBA Cup begins Friday, Oct. 30, with all 30 NBA teams competing in Group Play. The tournament concludes Friday, Dec. 11, with the championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Each team will play four Group Play games. Eight teams advance to the single-elimination Knockout Rounds: the six group winners and one wild card from each conference.
2026 NBA Cup Key DatesGroup Play: Oct. 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20, 24, 25 and 27Quarterfinals: Dec. 4-5Semifinals: Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9Championship: Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in IndianapolisNBA Opening Night & Christmas Day schedules are ‘DELICIOUS’ with LeBron vs. Knicks & Lakers | FTF 
The NBA has released the schedules for Opening Night and Christmas Day, with marquee matchups featuring LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes ask if the NBA got the schedules right.
2026 NBA Cup Group Play ScheduleFriday, Oct. 30Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards, 7 p.m. ETChicago Bulls at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ETDetroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. ETNew York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30 p.m. ETOrlando Magic at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ETIndiana Pacers at Miami Heat, 8 p.m. ETHouston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks, 8 p.m. ETLA Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ETLos Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. ETDenver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, 10 p.m. ETFriday, Nov. 6Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m. ETBoston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m. ETPhiladelphia 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. ETUtah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks, 8 p.m. ETOklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ETToronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. ETMinnesota Timberwolves at New Orleans Pelicans, 8 p.m. ETPortland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ETSan Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m. ETFriday, Nov. 13New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m. ETMilwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m. ETCleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat, 8 p.m. ETAtlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. ETMemphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans, 8 p.m. ETUtah Jazz at Houston Rockets, 8:30 p.m. ETGolden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ETPortland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m. ETOklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ETFriday, Nov. 20Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m. ETOrlando Magic at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. ETIndiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m. ETToronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. ETWashington Wizards at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. ETNew Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ETPhoenix Suns at Utah Jazz, 9:30 p.m. ETHouston Rockets at Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ETSacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ETWHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT
Here’s how Nick Wright breaks down the league tiers entering Week 1 of the preseason.
Tuesday, Nov. 24Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m. ETBoston Celtics at Washington Wizards, 8 p.m. ETDallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ETWednesday, Nov. 25Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers, 5 p.m. ETChicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m. ETCleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ETMinnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder, 7:30 p.m. ETLA Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ETBrooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. ETPhoenix Suns at Houston Rockets, 8:30 p.m. ETSacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. ETSan Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ETFriday, Nov. 27Miami Heat at New York Knicks, 7 p.m. ETMilwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. ETPhiladelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers, 7:30 p.m. ETBrooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors, 7:30 p.m. ETAtlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics, 8 p.m. ETMemphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m. ETDallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns, 9 p.m. ETLos Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ETDenver Nuggets at Utah Jazz, 9:30 p.m. ETNew Orleans Pelicans at LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m. ETGolden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers, 9:30 p.m. ET2026 NBA Cup GroupsEastern ConferenceEast Group A: Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn NetsEast Group B: New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Indiana PacersEast Group C: Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls and Washington WizardsWestern ConferenceWest Group A: Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Utah JazzWest Group B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis GrizzliesWest Group C: San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento KingsHow Does the NBA Cup Work?
Each team plays the other four teams in its group once. The six group winners advance, along with the best second-place team from each conference. Point differential is the first tiebreaker after head-to-head results among tied teams.
All Group Play, quarterfinal and semifinal games count toward the 82-game regular-season schedule. The championship does not count as a regular-season game.
Where Is the 2026 NBA Cup Championship?
The 2026 NBA Cup championship will be played Friday, Dec. 11, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in NBA team markets.
Who Won the NBA Cup Last Year?
The New York Knicks won the 2025 NBA Cup, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the championship game. Jalen Brunson was named NBA Cup MVP. The Knicks later became the first team to win the NBA Cup and NBA championship in the same season.
Who Are the Previous NBA Cup Winners?2025: New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 124-1132024: Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 97-812023: Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers, 123-109
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