The NBA has released the groups for the 2026 NBA Cup, with the tournament running from Oct. 30 to Dec. 11. Teams will play round-robin action in groups of five before the six winners and one wild card from each conference advance to a three-stage knockout brac
The race for another in-season trophy doesn’t wait for the Larry O’Brien trophy to be lifted. On Tuesday, the NBA unveiled the groups for the 2026 NBA Cup, setting the stage for a season-long sprint that begins Oct. 30 and ends Dec. 11.
The tournament runs from Oct. 30 to Dec. 11, with all 30 NBA teams placed randomly into groups of five within their conference. The NBA determined those group placements based on win-loss records from the 2025-26 regular season. Round-robin play runs from Oct. 30 to Nov. 27, with each team playing one game against each of its four group opponents.
After the round-robin slate, the tournament moves to the knockout rounds, scheduled for Dec. 4-11. Each conference will send six group winners and one wild card to the bracket. The knockout schedule is split into three stages: the quarterfinals on Dec. 4-5, the semifinals on Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9, and the championship game on Dec. 11.
For the Eastern Conference, the early spotlight lands on East Group A, where the Toronto Raptors headline the group. They’ll be joined by last year’s No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons, the Orlando Magic, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Brooklyn Nets. Group play will have the Raptors hosting the Magic and Nets, while traveling to play the Pistons and the Bucks.
East Group B brings the defending champions into a particularly tough-looking path. Last year’s NBA Cup champions, the New York Knicks, will be slotted alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
In East Group C, the Boston Celtics lead the pack with the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, and Washington Wizards forming the rest of the group.
Across the West, Denver sets the tone in West Group A with the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Dallas Mavericks rounding out the competition.
West Group B includes the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Memphis Grizzlies. West Group C features a mix of established powers and postseason contenders: San Antonio Spurs. Los Angeles Lakers. Portland Trail Blazers. Golden State Warriors. and Sacramento Kings.
The final is the last piece of the calendar to lock in. This year’s NBA Cup Final will not be staged on the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip. Instead, it will be played at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana.
In a tournament format built on repeated matchups, the groups matter right away—because by Nov. 27, the difference between hosting a game or making a trip could decide who has a clear path into the knockout rounds.
2026 NBA Cup groups NBA in-season tournament Toronto Raptors Detroit Pistons New York Knicks Boston Celtics knockout rounds Hinkle Fieldhouse
NBA Cup is still a thing? I thought it got canceled last year lol.
Raptors got a home-heavy schedule or something, right? Like why do they always get the favorable groups. Also Oct 30-Dec 11 is so long for an “in-season” trophy.
They said based on win-loss records from 2025-26… so basically nobody knows anything yet and they just shuffle it anyway? If Detroit is in East Group A then that group is already fake hard.
Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse?? That sounds like college arena vibes. I feel like the championship should be in Vegas every year or it doesn’t count. Also did they say 6 winners and 1 wild card from each conference goes to the knockout, that’s like 7 teams, but then it’s quarterfinals so math??