The NBA Cup Groups 2026 are official. The Emirates NBA Cup returns for its fourth season, and all 30 teams now know exactly who they are competing against in the group stage. The NBA announced the six groups on August 12, 2026, with teams divided into five-team pools — three in the Eastern Conference, three in the Western Conference — based on their 2025-26 regular-season records.
Each team plays four group-stage games: two at home, two on the road. The five group winners and three wild-card teams advance to the single-elimination knockout stage in December. All group-stage games count toward the regular-season standings — which means nothing in this tournament is low-stakes.
How the 2026 NBA Cup Group Stage Works
Before diving into the groups, here is the structure:
- 30 teams divided into 6 groups of 5
- Each team plays 4 group-stage games (2 home, 2 away)
- All group-stage results count toward the regular-season record
- 5 group winners + 3 wild-card teams = 8 teams advance
- Single-elimination knockout stage runs December 4–11
- Championship game: December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Eastern Conference NBA Cup Groups 2026
East Group A
Teams: Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors
East Group A is built around two programs with genuine Eastern Conference ambitions — Milwaukee and Orlando — surrounded by younger teams that can create real problems in a four-game group format.
Milwaukee brings the organizational infrastructure of a consistent playoff team. Orlando has developed into one of the East’s more intriguing young rosters. Detroit, Toronto, and Brooklyn each carry enough talent to be disruptive over a short group-stage schedule. In a format where every game counts in the standings, a loss to Detroit or Brooklyn can end a group run before it starts.
Group to watch: Milwaukee is the likely group favorite, but Orlando has the defensive profile to win this group outright.
East Group B
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers
This is the group everyone will be talking about. East Group B is the most star-powered pool in the entire NBA Cup Groups 2026 structure.
The defending NBA champion New York Knicks are in this group. So are the Philadelphia 76ers — now featuring LeBron James and Jaylen Brown alongside Tyrese Maxey — which makes Philly one of the most anticipated rosters in the league heading into 2026-27. Cleveland and Miami bring significant postseason experience. Indiana has proven it can compete with anyone on any given night.
Five teams. Four games each. Every result carries standings weight. East Group B will produce drama from the first tip-off.
The marquee matchup: New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers. The defending champions against LeBron James’s new team. In a group-stage game that counts in the standings. In October. The NBA scheduled this correctly.
East Group C
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards
Boston enters East Group C as the clear group favorite on paper. The Celtics have the roster depth and organizational quality to navigate a four-game group stage without difficulty — assuming health and focus hold.
Atlanta provides the most intriguing competition within the group. Chicago and Charlotte are capable of winning individual games, which is all it takes in a short group format to create wild-card positioning drama. Washington fills out the group as a development-focused program that will nonetheless compete hard in games that count toward the standings.
Group favorite: Boston. But Atlanta has enough to make this competitive if the Hawks are playing well in late October and November.
Western Conference NBA Cup Groups 2026
West Group A
Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz
West Group A brings genuine Western Conference contender energy. Denver remains a major championship-level threat with Nikola Jokić anchoring everything the Nuggets do offensively and defensively. Dallas has the roster to make a deep postseason run. Houston continues building toward a competitive program with a young core that has been developing steadily.
Phoenix brings veteran talent that makes them dangerous in short-series competition — exactly the format this group stage provides. Utah adds unpredictability. The Jazz have shown the ability to play above expectations in single-game and short-series contexts.
Group favorite: Denver. But Dallas is capable of winning this group outright with the right four-game run.
West Group B
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder
West Group B may be the most competitive pool in the entire Western Conference. Oklahoma City enters the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup as one of the West’s leading teams — powered by two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — after finishing last season in the Western Conference Finals. Minnesota brings playoff experience and defensive versatility. The Clippers have been a consistent postseason presence.
Memphis and New Orleans round out the group with the talent to challenge any opponent on a given night. In a four-game group format, either team could realistically finish as the wild-card threat.
Group favorite: Oklahoma City. But Minnesota has the defensive structure to win this group if SGA and the Thunder have any early-season inconsistency.
West Group C
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs
West Group C is the star-power group of the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors bring one of the NBA’s most recognizable modern rivalries into the same five-team pool. San Antonio adds major intrigue with Victor Wembanyama leading its young core — a player whose talent level makes the Spurs a genuine threat to win any individual game regardless of overall record.
Sacramento and Portland round out the group and will play the role of spoiler. Both teams are capable of victories that reshape the group standings and open the wild-card door for other programs.
Group favorite: Los Angeles Lakers or Golden State Warriors — both have the roster quality to win this group. San Antonio’s ceiling in a short format is worth watching closely.
2026 NBA Cup Group Stage Key Dates
| Game Day | Date |
|---|---|
| Game Day 1 | Friday, October 30 |
| Game Day 2 | Friday, November 6 |
| Game Day 3 | Tuesday, November 13 |
| Game Day 4 | Friday, November 20 |
| Game Day 5 | Tuesday, November 24 |
| Game Day 6 | Friday, November 25 |
| Game Day 7 | Sunday, November 27 |
Knockout Stage
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | December 4–5 |
| Semifinals | December 8 or 9 |
| Championship | December 11 — Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis |
Groups at a Glance
| Group | Teams | Favorite |
|---|---|---|
| East Group A | Brooklyn, Detroit, Milwaukee, Orlando, Toronto | Milwaukee Bucks |
| East Group B | Cleveland, Indiana, Miami, New York, Philadelphia | Knicks / 76ers |
| East Group C | Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Washington | Boston Celtics |
| West Group A | Dallas, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Utah | Denver Nuggets |
| West Group B | LA Clippers, Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, OKC | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| West Group C | Golden State, LA Lakers, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio | Lakers / Warriors |
FAQ
Q: How are the NBA Cup 2026 groups determined?
A: The NBA Cup Groups 2026 are based on each team’s 2025-26 regular-season record. The 30 teams are divided into six five-team groups — three in the Eastern Conference and three in the Western Conference.
Q: Which teams are in East Group B of the NBA Cup 2026?
A: East Group B includes the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers — widely considered the most star-studded group in the entire 2026 Emirates NBA Cup.
Q: How many teams advance from the NBA Cup 2026 group stage?
A: Eight teams advance — the five group winners plus three wild-card teams. They compete in a single-elimination knockout stage running December 4–11.
Q: Where is the NBA Cup 2026 championship game?
A: The 2026 NBA Cup championship game is at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on December 11, 2026 — the only NBA Cup game that does not count toward the regular-season standings.
