NBA Cup 2026 schedule released: Indianapolis to host final for first time

The National Basketball Association has published the official schedule for the 2026 NBA Cup, confirming that the in-season tournament will commence on Friday, 30 October. According to the release from Yahoo Sports, the competition structure remains consistent with previous iterations, divided into six groups of five teams, with each side required to play four group-stage matches.

The knockout rounds are scheduled to begin on Friday, 4 December, leading to the championship game on Friday, 11 December. A significant administrative change for the 2026 edition is the relocation of the title match from Las Vegas to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, marking the first time the final has been held outside of Nevada.

Group compositions have been finalised across both conferences. East Group A comprises the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets. East Group B includes the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers, while East Group C consists of the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, and Washington Wizards.

In the Western Conference, West Group A features the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz. West Group B includes the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Memphis Grizzlies. West Group C is made up of the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and Sacramento Kings.

The scheduling details include specific broadcast designations for group-stage fixtures, with matches assigned to networks such as Prime Video, ESPN, and NBC. The previous championship, held in 2025, saw the New York Knicks defeat the San Antonio Spurs in a contest that served as a preview for that season’s NBA Finals.