Emirates NBA Cup 2026 groups announced

The groups are set for the

Emirates NBA Cup 2026

.

All 30 teams have been randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2025-26 regular season.

The Emirates NBA Cup will tip off on Friday, October 30 in NBA team markets. Group Play games will be played every Friday from October 30 through November 27, with additional “Cup Nights” on Tuesday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 25.

The groups are available below.

West Group A

Denver Nuggets

Houston Rockets

Phoenix Suns

Dallas Mavericks

Utah Jazz

West Group B

Oklahoma City Thunder

Minnesota Timberwolves

LA 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

The Quarterfinals (Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5) and Semifinals (Tuesday, Dec. 8 and/or Wednesday, Dec. 9) will take place in NBA team markets before the tournament concludes with the Championship on Friday, December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Emirates NBA Cup Key Dates

Group Play:

Oct. 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20, 24, 25 & 27

Quarterfinals:

Dec. 4-5

Semifinals:

Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9

Championship:

Dec. 11

The 2025-26 New York Knicks became the first team to win the Emirates NBA Cup and NBA Championship in the same season.

Emirates NBA Cup History

Over the three-year history of the Emirates NBA Cup, a connection between success during the in-season tournament and the NBA postseason has developed, culminating in a Knicks vs. Spurs matchup in both the 2025 Cup Championship Game and the 2026 NBA Finals in the same season.

Following a run to the Cup title game in the inaugural event in 2023, the Indiana Pacers went on to reach the NBA Finals the following season – their first run that deep in 25 years.

A year later, the OKC Thunder fell in the Cup Championship, before winning the NBA Finals to close out the 2024-25 season.

2025

:

def. San Antonio Spurs,

124-113

(

MVP: Jalen Brunson

| Knicks)

2024

def. Oklahoma City Thunder,

97-81

MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo

| Bucks)

2023

def. Indiana Pacers,

123-109

MVP: LeBron James

| Lakers)