The 2026 NBA Cup tips off on Friday, October 30, marking the fourth season of the league's in-season competition. The tournament will unfold over six weeks, with four group-stage games determining the eight teams that advance to the knockout rounds. The championship game is scheduled for December 11 at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Group Stage Alignment
The 30 teams are divided into six groups of five. In the Eastern Conference, Group A features the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets. Group B includes the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers. Group C comprises the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, and Washington Wizards. In the Western Conference, Group A has the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz. Group B includes the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Memphis Grizzlies. Group C consists of the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and Sacramento Kings.
Five Bold Predictions for the 2026 Edition
1. Knicks to miss knockout stage as defending champions. New York, which became the first team to win both the NBA Cup and the NBA championship in the same season last year, drew a difficult East Group B. The Knicks face the 76ers, Cavaliers, Heat, and Pacers. The previous two Cup champions — the Lakers and Bucks — both failed to advance from the group stage while defending their title, and the Knicks are projected to extend that streak to three years.
2. Trail Blazers to win West Group C. Despite the Spurs being favorites and the Lakers a threat, Portland's healthy start and star backcourt duo of Damian Lillard and Ja Morant are seen as built for early-season competition. Lillard, who won the Cup with Milwaukee, could give the Blazers a puncher's chance in the knockout rounds.
3. Kings to set record for worst point differential. Sacramento has already lost games by 25 and 27 points in its first four contests. Playing in West Group C against the Spurs, Lakers, Blazers, and Warriors, the Kings could face heavy defeats as opponents seek point-differential boosts. The current record of -85, set by the 2025 Jazz, is expected to fall.
4. Pistons and Celtics to decide Eastern Conference finalist. Boston has a favorable path in East Group C, while Detroit's group is viewed as manageable with injuries to Paolo Banchero and Kawhi Leonard hampering top rivals. Both teams have started the season strongly, and their continuity compared to other Eastern contenders with new-look rosters could propel them to a semifinal showdown.
5. Rockets to win the 2026 NBA Cup. Houston, coming off a first-round playoff exit, is seen as a team with something to prove. Despite Alperen Sengun missing early group games with a back injury, the Rockets have a relatively friendly West Group A path against Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, and Utah. Fred VanVleet's return has stabilized the offense, and Kevin Durant remains a major individual mismatch. Past Cup finalists have typically been teams aiming to validate their status beyond regular-season success, a profile that fits Houston in a suddenly open Western Conference.
