The 2026-27 Emirates NBA Cup is underway. Group play opened Friday, October 30 and runs on Cup nights through Friday, November 27. All 30 teams are split into six groups of five, three in each conference, and the eight teams that advance play a single-elimination knockout that ends with the championship on Friday, December 11. For the first time the title game moves to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, after three years in Las Vegas. Below are the full groups, the complete group-play schedule, how the bracket works, and a free printable you can fill in as teams qualify.
2026-27 NBA Cup groups
Latest (after the November 13 slate): Miami stayed perfect in East Group B with a 133-121 win over Cleveland, San Antonio routed Golden State 123-85 to move to 2-0 atop West Group C, and the Clippers stunned Oklahoma City 113-112, while Chicago edged Atlanta 125-117 in overtime and Orlando held off Milwaukee to stay unbeaten in East Group A. The next Cup night is Friday, November 20.
Each team plays the other four teams in its group once, two at home and two on the road. Those four games count toward the regular-season standings. The standings below update as Cup nights are played, with point differential the first on-court tiebreaker.
Eastern Conference standings
| East Group A | W-L | Diff |
|---|---|---|
| Orlando Magic | 2-0 | +15 |
| Detroit Pistons | 1-0 | +16 |
| Toronto Raptors | 1-1 | +7 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 0-1 | -16 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 0-2 | -22 |
| East Group B | W-L | Diff |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Heat | 2-0 | +32 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1-1 | +12 |
| Indiana Pacers | 1-1 | -18 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1-1 | -19 |
| New York Knicks | 0-2 | -7 |
| East Group C | W-L | Diff |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 2-0 | +53 |
| Washington Wizards | 1-1 | +9 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1-1 | -1 |
| Chicago Bulls | 1-1 | -6 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 0-2 | -55 |
Western Conference standings
| West Group A | W-L | Diff |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | 2-0 | +17 |
| Denver Nuggets | 1-0 | +7 |
| Houston Rockets | 1-1 | +2 |
| Phoenix Suns | 0-1 | -7 |
| Utah Jazz | 0-2 | -19 |
| West Group B | W-L | Diff |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 2-0 | +32 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 1-1 | +30 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 1-1 | 0 |
| LA Clippers | 1-1 | -25 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 0-2 | -37 |
| West Group C | W-L | Diff |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | 2-0 | +53 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1-1 | +7 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1-1 | -11 |
| Golden State Warriors | 1-1 | -21 |
| Sacramento Kings | 0-2 | -28 |
NBA Cup group-play schedule
Group games are played on designated Cup nights. The opener is October 30 and the group stage wraps November 27, with a Thanksgiving-week stretch on national TV.
| Date | Slate | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | Opening night doubleheader | Prime Video |
| Fri, Nov 6 | Cup Night doubleheader | Prime Video |
| Fri, Nov 13 | Cup Night doubleheader | Prime Video |
| Fri, Nov 20 | Cup Night doubleheader | Prime Video |
| Tue, Nov 24 | Cup Night doubleheader | NBC |
| Wed, Nov 25 | Cup Night tripleheader (Thanksgiving Eve) | ESPN |
| Fri, Nov 27 | Group-play finale | Prime Video |
How the NBA Cup knockout bracket works
Eight teams reach the knockout round: the six group winners plus one wild card from each conference, which goes to the best second-place team. The bracket is single elimination. Quarterfinals are December 4 and 5, semifinals are December 8 and 9, and both rounds are hosted in the home markets of the higher seeds. The two conference winners meet in the championship on December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, streaming on Prime Video. Every Cup game counts in the regular-season standings except the championship, whose stats are kept separate.
Printable NBA Cup bracket
Download the printable NBA Cup bracket (PDF)
The printable includes all six groups, the group-play schedule and a blank knockout bracket you can fill in as the field is set.
Key dates and prize money
Group play: October 30 to November 27. Quarterfinals: December 4-5. Semifinals: December 8-9. Championship: December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis. There is real money on the line for players at each round.
| Result | Bonus |
|---|---|
| Champion | $514,971 per player |
| Runner-up | $205,988 per player |
| Semifinal losers | $102,994 per player |
| Quarterfinal losers | $51,497 per player |
Related NBA resources
- 2026-27 NBA standings: conference races, play-in picture and printable tracker
- 2026-27 NBA scores: live scoreboard and daily results
NBA Cup FAQ
When does the 2026 NBA Cup start?
Group play begins Friday, October 30, 2026 and runs on Cup nights through Friday, November 27.
How do teams advance in the NBA Cup?
The six group winners advance automatically, joined by one wild card in each conference, the best second-place team. That makes eight teams, four from each conference, in a single-elimination knockout.
Where is the 2026 NBA Cup championship?
The championship is Friday, December 11, 2026 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. It is the first NBA Cup final held outside Las Vegas.
Do NBA Cup games count in the standings?
Yes, every group-play, quarterfinal and semifinal game counts toward the regular-season record. Only the championship game is separate and does not count in the standings.
