The NBA has officially unveiled the group stage for the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup, setting the stage for another month of meaningful basketball before the calendar flips to December.
All 30 NBA teams were randomly drawn into groups of five within their respective conferences based on their 2025-26 regular-season records. The tournament returns for its fourth edition, with Group Play beginning on October 30 and concluding on November 27.
How the Emirates NBA Cup Works
Group Play will be held exclusively on designated “Cup Nights” from Oct. 30 through Nov. 27.
Each team will play four Group Play games, facing each of the other four teams in its group once. Every team will host two games and play two on the road.
When Group Play concludes, the six group winners and one wild-card team from each conference (the best second-place finisher) will advance to the single-elimination Knockout Rounds, where teams will compete for the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup championship.
The NBA is expected to release the complete game schedule and national television broadcast schedule in August.
Official 2026 Emirates NBA Cup Groups
West Group A
- Denver Nuggets
- Houston Rockets
- Phoenix Suns
- Dallas Mavericks
- Utah Jazz
West Group B
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Los Angeles Clippers
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Memphis Grizzlies
West Group C
- San Antonio Spurs
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Golden State Warriors
- Sacramento Kings
East Group A
- Detroit Pistons
- Toronto Raptors
- Orlando Magic
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Brooklyn Nets
East Group B
- New York Knicks
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Miami Heat
- Indiana Pacers
East Group C
- Boston Celtics
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Washington Wizards
Biggest Storylines
West Group C could be the tournament’s “Group of Death.”
With the Lakers, Warriors, Spurs, and Kings all expected to compete for playoff positioning, every Cup Night could have postseason intensity.
East Group B is loaded with contenders.
The Knicks, Cavaliers, 76ers, Heat, and Pacers all have realistic postseason aspirations, making advancement anything but guaranteed.
Every game matters.
Because each team only plays four Group Play games, there is little margin for error. One loss—or even point differential in tiebreaker scenarios—could determine which teams advance to the knockout stage.
The NBA Cup has quickly become one of the league’s most exciting in-season events, adding meaningful competition to the first month of the regular season while giving fans playoff-like matchups well before the All-Star break.
