The Brooklyn Nets head into the 2025-26 NBA season knowing who they will be playing in the preseason along with knowing that they will not be playing on days like Opening Night, for example. Brooklyn won’t know their full schedule until Thursday when the NBA will release the entirety of the schedule, but they at least know what their 2025 Emirates NBA Cup slate looks like.

The NBA released the schedule for the NBA Cup and the Nets now know when they will be playing all of their opponents within East Group B bracket. Brooklyn will be in the same group as the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers and will most likely have to win at least three of the four matchups if they want to advance to the single-elimination Knockout Rounds.

According to the NBA, eight teams advance to the Knockout Rounds based on “the team with the best standing in Group Play games in each of the six groups and one “wild card” team from each conference. The wild card will be the team from each conference with the best record in Group Play games that finished second in its group.”

At best, the Nets will have to finish with at least the second-best record in the group if they want to advance to the Knockout stage where they could compete for a chance for a prize pool. Last season, Brooklyn finished with a 1-3 record while playing in the same group as the 76ers and Magic while also having to face the New York Knicks and the Charlotte Hornets.

The Nets could have a better shot of emerging from Group B with a winning record as the Celtics are expected to take a step back with the Achilles injury to superstar forward Jayson Tatum. More to the point, the Pistons, Magic, and 76ers were sixth or worse in the Eastern Conference even though Philadelphia should be a much better team as long as center Joel Embiid and forward Paul George are healthy.

Here is the Nets’ schedule for NBA Cup Group Play during the 2025-25 campaign:

Vs. Detroit PistonsDate: Friday, Nov. 7Time: 7:30 PM ETLocation: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NYChannel: YES NetworkAt Orlando MagicDate: Friday, Nov. 14Time: 7:00 PM ETLocation: Kia Center, Orlando, FLChannel: YES NetworkAt Boston CelticsDate: Friday, Nov. 21Time: 7:30 PM ETLocation: TD Garden, Boston, MAChannel: YES NetworkVs. Philadelphia 76ersDate: Friday, Nov. 28Time: 7:30 PM ETLocation: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PAChannel: YES Network