The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup will culminate in Indianapolis, with Hinkle Fieldhouse hosting the championship game on Dec. 11. The league unveiled the complete group stage schedule for the fourth edition of the in-season tournament.
Group play runs every Friday from Oct. 30 through Nov. 27. Special Cup nights are also scheduled during Thanksgiving week, on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25. The format includes 60 games during the group stage.
The New York Knicks enter as defending champions, having become the first team to win both the NBA Cup and the NBA Finals in the same season. Jalen Brunson leads the Knicks as they aim to defend both titles.
The Knicks face early competition in East Group B. In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves draw West Group B, with group opponents including the Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Timberwolves open group play Oct. 30 by hosting the LA Clippers, then travel to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 6. Their schedule continues Nov. 25 with a road game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Opening night Oct. 30 features 10 games across both conferences. The Charlotte Hornets visit the Washington Wizards, the Chicago Bulls host the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons play the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks travel to the Philadelphia 76ers. Also on the slate: the Orlando Magic at the Toronto Raptors, the Indiana Pacers at the Miami Heat, the Houston Rockets at the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers against the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets at the Phoenix Suns.
Action continues Nov. 6 with the Washington Wizards traveling to the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics playing at the Charlotte Hornets. The Philadelphia 76ers visit the Cleveland Cavaliers. Western Conference games include the Utah Jazz at the Dallas Mavericks, the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the New Orleans Pelicans.
Nov. 13 matchups feature the New York Knicks at the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks at the Orlando Magic. The Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Miami Heat, and the Atlanta Hawks host the Chicago Bulls. Western Conference contests include the Memphis Grizzlies at the New Orleans Pelicans, the Utah Jazz at the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors at the San Antonio Spurs.
Nov. 20 games include the Charlotte Hornets at the Atlanta Hawks, the Orlando Magic at the Brooklyn Nets and the Indiana Pacers at the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Toronto Raptors visit the Detroit Pistons, the Washington Wizards play the Chicago Bulls and the New Orleans Pelicans face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Thanksgiving week brings two additional Cup nights. On Nov. 24, the Detroit Pistons visit the Orlando Magic, the Boston Celtics play the Washington Wizards and the Dallas Mavericks travel to the Denver Nuggets.
Nov. 25 features the Miami Heat at the Philadelphia 76ers, the Chicago Bulls at the Charlotte Hornets and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the New York Knicks. The Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Oklahoma City Thunder, the LA Clippers play the Memphis Grizzlies and the Brooklyn Nets face the Milwaukee Bucks.
