NBA Cup 2026 schedules, groups, format, and how to watch live across 67 games in the United States; Final at Hinkle Fieldhouse

NBA Cup 2026: Schedule, groups, format, and how to watch live

The NBA’s in-season tournament is back from 30 October, culminating in a final at a new venue. Here’s how the competition works, full group details, and where to watch the action live.

The NBA Cup tips off on Friday 30 October, with a change of scenery for this year’s title decider. After three editions in Las Vegas, the final moves to Hinkle Fieldhouse, Butler University’s historic basketball arena in Indianapolis, on 11 December.

The tournament, now in its fourth edition, forms part of the NBA regular season, with all 67 games - except the final - counting towards teams’ records. The league’s 30 teams are split into six five-team groups — three in each conference — and face every other team in their group once. Each group winner advances to the knockout rounds, along with the best-performing runner-up from each conference as a wildcard.

What are the 2026 NBA Cup groups?

The draw is determined by the previous season’s standings. In each conference, the 15 teams are divided into five seeding pots: the top three make up Pot 1, teams ranked fourth to sixth enter Pot 2, and the pattern continues through to Pot 5, containing teams ranked 13th to 15th. Each group then receives one team from each pot.

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

West Group A: Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, 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

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Teams to watch in the NBA Cup 2026

East Group B shapes up as the standout group, with New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Miami and Indiana all entering the season among the leading contenders in the conference.

Defending champions New York are led by Jalen Brunson , while LeBron James faces two familiar teams early in his 76ers career: Cleveland on 6 November and Miami on 25 November. The latter also brings his first meeting with Giannis Antetokounmpo since the two-time MVP’s move from Milwaukee.

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Who won the NBA Cup last year?

New York are the defending champions, having beaten San Antonio 124-113 in Las Vegas in 2025. OG Anunoby scored 28 points, while Brunson added 25 and was named tournament MVP.

The Knicks later beat the Spurs in the NBA Finals, becoming the first team to win the Cup and championship in the same season. The Lakers won the inaugural Cup in 2023 and Milwaukee followed in 2024, with James and Antetokounmpo named MVP respectively.

Indiana welcome back Tyrese Haliburton after a season out with a torn Achilles, with the added incentive of the final taking place in Indianapolis.

In the West, Paris 2024 silver medallist Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio return after finishing runners-up last year, while Luka Dončić and the 2023 champion Lakers open against Steph Curry and Golden State.

Emirates NBA Cup 2026 schedule

Group play — Fridays 30 October, 6, 13, 20 and 27 November, plus Thanksgiving-week games on 24 and 25 November

Final — 11 December, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

The full group play schedule is as follows (all times are U.S. Eastern Time Zone).

Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards — 7pm

Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics — 7.30pm

Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets — 7.30pm

New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers — 7.30pm

Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors — 7.30pm

Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat — 8pm

Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks — 8pm

LA Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves — 8pm

Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors — 10pm

Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns — 10pm

Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks — 7pm

Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets — 7pm

Philadelphia 76ers at Cleveland Cavaliers — 7.30pm

Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks — 8pm

Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies — 8pm

Toronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks — 8pm

Minnesota Timberwolves at New Orleans Pelicans — 8pm

Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers — 10pm

San Antonio Spurs at Sacramento Kings — 10pm

New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers — 7pm

Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic — 7pm

Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat — 8pm

Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls — 8pm

Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans — 8pm

Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets — 8.30pm

Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs — 9.30pm

Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings — 10pm

Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers — 10.30pm

Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks — 7pm

Orlando Magic at Brooklyn Nets — 7.30pm

Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers — 7.30pm

Toronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons — 7.30pm

Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls — 8pm

New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder — 8pm

Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz — 9.30pm

Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets — 10pm

Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers — 10pm

Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic — 7pm

Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards — 8pm

Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets — 10pm

Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers — 5pm

Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets — 7pm

Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks — 7.30pm

Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder — 7.30pm (ESPN)

LA Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies — 8pm

Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks — 8pm

Phoenix Suns at Houston Rockets — 8.30pm

Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors — 10pm

San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers — 10pm

Miami Heat at New York Knicks — 7pm

Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons — 7.30pm

Philadelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers — 7.30pm

Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors — 7.30pm

Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics — 8pm

Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves — 8.30pm

Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns — 9pm

Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs — 9.30pm

Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz — 9.30pm

New Orleans Pelicans at LA Clippers — 9.30pm

Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers — 9.30pm

How to watch the Emirates NBA Cup 2026 live

Coverage of the Emirates NBA Cup is available across several platforms:

United States: Prime Video will show most group-stage games, including the opening-night double-header, with selected games also airing on NBC and ESPN.

International: NBA League Pass provides live and on-demand access in supported markets, subject to local restrictions. Viewers can check the NBA’s international broadcast partners for local coverage details.