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.
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.
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
The New York Knicks celebrate after winning the NBA Cup final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
The New York Knicks celebrate after winning the NBA Cup final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dribbles the ball past San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama dunks the ball.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reaches for a rebound against the San Antonio Spurs.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
The San Antonio Spurs mascot reacts during the NBA Cup final against the New York Knicks.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
Spike Lee watches the NBA Cup final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson reacts against the New York Knicks during the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball over New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) during the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
New York Knicks guard Tyler Kolek (13) dribbles the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts after making a three point basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2025.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) dunks the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2025.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) dribbles the ball against New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00) during the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2025.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
Dancers perform during a timeout in the first quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
(Steve Marcus, Getty Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball while defended by Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter in the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
(Steve Marcus, Getty Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) and New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) prepare for the opening tip off during the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2025.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
An overall view of the court during the Emirates NBA Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2025.
(Kirby Lee, magn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
Queen Naija performs the national anthem before the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nev.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
The Emirates NBA Cup logo at mid-court at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2025.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
The Emirates NBA Cup logo on the net at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2025.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
A general overall view of the T-Mobile Arena, the site of the Emirates NBA Cup Final between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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Knicks defeat Spurs in NBA Cup final in Las Vegas
The Emirates NBA Cup, New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs logos on the T-Mobile Arena video board in Las Vegas on Dec. 16, 2025.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
NBA Cup Schedule
Group Play: Oct. 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20, 24, 25 & 27
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
Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
Utah Jazz at Dallas Mavericks – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
Nov. 13
Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers – 10:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
Nov. 20
Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
New Orleans Pelicans at Oklahoma City Thunder – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers – 10 p.m., NBA League Pass
Nov. 24
Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards – 8 p.m., NBC
Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets – 10 p.m., NBC
Nov. 25
Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers – 5 p.m., ESPN
Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets – 7 p.m., NBA League Pass
Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder – 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
Phoenix Suns at Houston Rockets – 8:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers – 10 p.m., ESPN
Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors – 10 p.m., NBA League Pass
Nov. 27
Miami Heat at New York Knicks – 7 p.m., Prime
Philadelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics – 8 p.m., NBA League Pass
Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves – 8:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns – 9 p.m., NBA League Pass
Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs – 9:30 p.m., Prime
Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz – 9:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Clippers – 9:30 p.m., NBA League Pass
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
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
