The Emirates NBA Cup 2026 groups have been announced, setting up the league’s in-season tournament for a return from Friday 30 October.
All 30 NBA teams have been drawn into groups of five within their own conference, with the NBA saying the draw was based on win-loss records from the 2025-26 regular season. Group Play games will run on Fridays from 30 October to 27 November, with additional Cup Nights scheduled for Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 November.
The knockout rounds will follow in December. Quarter-finals are set for Friday 4 and Saturday 5 December, with the semi-finals scheduled for Tuesday 8 and/or Wednesday 9 December. The Championship will be played on Friday 11 December at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Among the Western Conference groups, the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz make up West Group A. West Group B includes the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans and Memphis Grizzlies, while West Group C features the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.
In the East, Group A contains the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets. Group B brings together the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers, while Group C includes the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards.
The Cup has quickly become a useful early-season marker. The NBA noted a recent link between strong Cup runs and later playoff success, with the 2025 Cup Championship featuring the Knicks and Spurs before the same teams met again in the 2026 NBA Finals.
For UK viewers, the format gives the early part of the NBA season a clearer competitive thread, with group games, standings and knockout stakes arriving well before the traditional playoff race begins to narrow.
Source: NBA announcement of the Emirates NBA Cup 2026 groups.