The Emirates NBA Cup is returning for a fourth season, with the league announcing the slate of games on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The league’s 30 teams are each placed into groups of five within their conference, based on their win-loss records from the 2025-26 regular season.
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Each team plays four group stage games against each team in their group, with two two home games and two on the road. Eight teams (group stage winners and two wild cards) move on to the single-elimination knockout stage.
Every NBA Cup game, except the championship, will count toward the regular-season standings.
Group Play starts Oct. 30 with a full slate of games, featuring a doubleheader on Amazon Prime with the defending NBA Cup and Finals champion New York Knicks against the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Golden State Warriors.
NBA Cup Schedule
Group Play: Oct. 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20, 24, 25 & 27
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The quarterfinals will take place Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, with the semifinals being played Dec. 8 and Dec. 9.
The championship will be played Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Oct. 30
All times eastern.
Nov. 6
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Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
Nov. 13
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Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers – 10:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
Nov. 20
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Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
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New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers – 10 p.m., NBA League Pass
Nov. 24
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Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards – 8 p.m., NBC
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Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets – 10 p.m., NBC
Nov. 25
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Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers – 5 p.m., ESPN
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Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder – 7:30 p.m., ESPN
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Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Phoenix Suns at Houston Rockets – 8:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers – 10 p.m., ESPN
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Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors – 10 p.m., NBA League Pass
Nov. 27
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Miami Heat at New York Knicks – 7 p.m., Prime
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Philadelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves – 8:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns – 9 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs – 9:30 p.m., Prime
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Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz – 9:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers – 9:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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Golden State Warriors at Portland Trail Blazers – 9:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
NBA Cup Groups
Western Conference
West Group A
West Group B
West Group C
Eastern Conference
East Group A
East Group B
East Group C
NBA Cup Champions
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2023-24 – Los Angeles Lakers; MVP: LeBron James, Los Angeles
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When does 2026 NBA Cup start? League unveils full tournament schedule
