The Emirates NBA Cup is the NBA’s in-season tournament. It adds a trophy, prize money and playoff-style drama to November and December. Here’s how the 2026 edition works.
The short version
- All 30 teams take part.
- Teams are split into six groups of five (three in the East, three in the West).
- Group Play runs on "Cup Nights" from Oct. 30 to Nov. 27.
- Eight teams reach the knockout rounds.
- The Championship is on Friday, Dec. 11, 2026, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
- Every Cup game counts in the regular-season standings except the Championship.
Step 1: Group Play
Each team plays the other four teams in its group once: two games at home and two on the road. These games are played on Friday Cup Nights between Oct. 30 and Nov. 27, plus extra Cup Nights on Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 25.
The 2026 groups
Western Conference
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | LA Clippers | Golden State Warriors |
| Denver Nuggets | Memphis Grizzlies | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Houston Rockets | Minnesota Timberwolves | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Phoenix Suns | New Orleans Pelicans | Sacramento Kings |
| Utah Jazz | Oklahoma City Thunder | San Antonio Spurs |
Eastern Conference
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Nets | Cleveland Cavaliers | Atlanta Hawks |
| Detroit Pistons | Indiana Pacers | Boston Celtics |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Miami Heat | Charlotte Hornets |
| Orlando Magic | New York Knicks | Chicago Bulls |
| Toronto Raptors | Philadelphia 76ers | Washington Wizards |
East Group B is the "group of death": the defending NBA champion Knicks, the 76ers, Cavaliers, Pacers and Heat, with Giannis Antetokounmpo now in Miami.
Step 2: Who advances?
Eight teams make the knockout rounds:
- The winner of each of the six groups
- One wild card per conference: the second-place team with the best Group Play record in that conference
Tiebreakers
If teams finish with the same record, the NBA uses:
- Head-to-head result in Group Play
- Point differential in Group Play
- Total points scored in Group Play
- Record from the 2025-26 regular season
- Random drawing
Overtime doesn’t count in the point tiebreakers. That’s why teams often keep scoring even when a game is already won: point differential matters.
Step 3: The knockout rounds
| Round | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | Fri., Dec. 4 and Sat., Dec. 5 | Higher seed’s home arena |
| Semifinals | Tue., Dec. 8 and/or Wed., Dec. 9 | Higher seed’s home arena |
| Championship | Fri., Dec. 11 | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis |
All knockout games are single elimination and stream on Prime Video.
Hinkle Fieldhouse is a historic college arena at Butler University. It’s famous in basketball history and appeared in the movie Hoosiers.
What do the winners get?
Players on teams in the knockout rounds share a prize pool, and the money grows the further a team goes. A media panel also names a Cup MVP and an All-Tournament Team.
Wait — what about the 82-game schedule?
Every team still plays 82 regular-season games. Each team has two "open" dates between Dec. 4 and Dec. 10. Teams that are knocked out (or don’t qualify) get regular games added on those dates, based on Group Play results. The Championship game is the only Cup game that does not count in the standings.
Who won last time?
The New York Knicks won the 2025 NBA Cup and then went on to win the 2026 NBA championship, beating the Spurs 4-1 in the Finals.
Quick answers
When does the 2026 NBA Cup start? Friday, Oct. 30, 2026.
Where is the 2026 NBA Cup final? Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, on Dec. 11.
Do NBA Cup games count in the standings? Yes, all of them except the Championship.
Where can I watch the NBA Cup? Group games are on the usual national and local channels. All knockout games stream on Prime Video.
