MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The NBA released its full 2026 Emirates NBA Cup schedule on Aug. 12.

The Memphis Grizzlies drew West Group B for this year’s edition of the in-season tournament.  The other teams in Memphis’ group are the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Clippers. The groups in the cup were decided by being randomly drawn based on their records from last season.

Memphis will play four group-play games, starting Nov.6 at home against Oklahoma City. The winners of each group and one wild-card team will advance to the knockout round of the tournament bracket to compete for a chance to win the Emirates NBA Cup championship on Dec.11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, home of Butler University.

Memphis will play the other teams in their group over the month of November. They have two cup games on the road on Nov. 13 against the Pelicans and Nov. 27 against the Timberwolves. The last group-play game will be Nov. 25 against the Clippers. 

Memphis certainly has one of the toughest groups in the tournament. The Thunder have obviously been one of the perennial elite teams over the last three seasons. Famously knocking out the Grizzlies in the first round of the 2025 playoffs on the way to OKC’s first NBA championship. Minnesota has also been one of the premier teams in the Western Conference in recent memory and just added NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball to their roster. 

The Pelicans and Clippers are team who are projected to have similar win totals as Memphis this season.  Memphis is looking to advance to the knockout round for the first time since the tournament’s creation in 2023. 

Memphis has a 5-7 record in NBA Cup Group play over the last three tournaments. They went 3-1 last year, but failed to win the group to advance to the knockout round due to point-differential tiebreakers. 

Full NBA Cup Group Play Schedule

Nov. 6: vs. Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Nov. 13: at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Nov. 25: vs. L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m.

Nov. 27: at Minnesota, 6:30 p.m.

Memphis did not land on national television for any of their opening games in the tournament. How these games will fit in the overall structure of Memphis’ season will be revealed as the NBA announces the full 2026-27 schedule on Aug. 13.