NBA
NBA Cup 2024 complete schedule: Matchups, dates and times of every game
For this year’s in-season tournament, all 30 teams in the world’s premier basketball league were randomly divided by conference into three groups of five.
The 2024 NBA Cup (formerly known as the in-season tournament), the new and exciting addition to the basketball calendar, will see its second edition this season, and here’s how it all works.
NBA Cup 2024: Competition’s Format
NBA commissioner Adam Silver drew inspiration from European soccer leagues when proposing an in-season cup competition within the NBA schedule. Unlike European leagues, the NBA Cup is integrated into the regular-season slate.
The tournament begins with a group play round involving all 30 NBA teams. The teams are split into six groups, with five teams in each group. During the group stage, each team competes against the others in their group once. The group play games are scheduled every Tuesday and Friday starting November 12th.
After completing these four games, the teams with the best records in each group will advance to the next stage. The wild cards will be the teams from each conference with the best record in the Group Play games that finished second in their respective groups.
Things become even more exciting as we enter the knockout phase, where the stakes rise seriously.
The Quarterfinals and the Final Four
Welcome to the quarterfinals! Thirty teams started this journey, but only eight will remain. These teams will compete in high-pressure, single-elimination games. In this phase, it’s simple—win, and you move on; lose, and you’re out. The tension is palpable as teams fight to advance, all with the ultimate goal of reaching Las Vegas.
The last four teams standing will proceed to the semifinals, which will take place under the bright lights of Las Vegas. Here, the excitement reaches its peak as these teams battle it out, not just for a spot in the finals but for the honor of being crowned the first-ever Emirates NBA Cup champions.
NBA Cup 2024: Groups
West
| West Group A | West Group B | West Group C |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Oklahoma City Thunder | Denver Nuggets |
| LA Clippers | Phoenix Suns | Dallas Mavericks |
| Sacramento Kings | L.A. Lakers | New Orleans Pelicans |
| Houston Rockets | Utah Jazz | Golden State Warriors |
| Portland Trailblazers | San Antonio Spurs | Memphis Grizzlies |
East
| East Group A | East Group B | East Group C |
|---|---|---|
| New York Knicks | Milwaukee Bucks | Boston Celtics |
| Orlando Magic | Indiana Pacers | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Miami Heat | Chicago Bulls |
| Brooklyn Nets | Toronto Raptors | Atlanta Hawks |
| Charlotte Hornets | Detroit Pistons | Washington Wizards |
NBA Cup 2024: Schedule
All times in Eastern
Nov. 12
- Hawks at Celtics, 7 p.m.
- Heat at Pistons, 7 p.m.
- Hornets at Magic, 7 p.m.
- Knicks at 76ers, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
- Raptors at Bucks, 8 p.m.
- Suns and Jazz, 9 p.m.
- Mavericks at Warriors, 10 p.m. (TNT)
- Timberwolves at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m.
Nov. 15
- Heat at Pacers, 7 p.m.
- 76ers at Magic, 7 p.m.
- Pistons at Raptors, 7 p.m.
- Lakers at Spurs, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Wizards at Hawks, 7:30 p.m.
- Bulls at Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m.
- Nets at Knicks, 7:30 p.m.
- Clippers at Rockets, 8 p.m.
- Denver at Pelicans, 8 p.m.
- Suns at Thunder, 8 p.m.
- Grizzlies at Warriors, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Nov. 19
- Cavaliers at Celtics, 7 p.m. (TNT)
- Hornets at Nets, 7:30 p.m.
- Nuggets at Grizzlies, 8 p.m.
- Pelicans at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
- Thunder at Spurs, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
- Jazz at Lakers, 10:30 p.m.
Nov. 22
- Nets at 76ers, 7 p.m.
- Celtics at Wizards, 7 p.m.
- Pacers at Bucks, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Hawks at Bulls, 8 p.m.
- Trail Blazers at Rockets, 8 p.m.
- Warriors at Pelicans, 8 p.m.
- Mavericks at Nuggets, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
- Kings at Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Nov. 26
- Bulls at Wizards, 7 p.m.
- Bucks at Heat, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
- Rockets at Timberwolves, 8 p.m.
- Spurs at Jazz, 9 p.m.
- Lakers at Suns, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Nov. 29
- Knicks at Hornets, noon (NBA TV)
- Cavaliers at Hawks, 2:30 p.m. (NBA TV)
- Pelicans at Grizzlies, 5 p.m. (NBA TV)
- Clippers at Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Magic at Nets, 7:30 p.m.
- Pistons at Pacers, 8 p.m.
- Raptors at Heat, 8 p.m.
- Celtics at Bulls, 8 p.m.
- Kings at Trail Blazers, 10 p.m.
Dec. 3
- 76ers at Magic, 7 p.m.
- Wizards at Cavaliers, 7 p.m.
- Bucks at Pistons, 7 p.m.
- Magic at Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
- Pacers at Raptors, 7:30 p.m.
- Jazz at Thunder, 8 p.m.
- Grizzlies at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
- Spurs at Suns, 9 p.m.
- Warriors at Nuggets, 10 p.m. (TNT)
- Rockets at Kings, 10 p.m.
- Trail Blazers at Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 and 11
- Quarterfinals
Dec. 14
- Semifinals
Dec. 17
- Championship
The NBA traditionally releases a comprehensive 82-game schedule in mid-August. However, this year, the league has decided to initially issue an 80-game schedule, keeping a gap of around a week for potential adjustments based on the unfolding of the NBA Cup group stage.
Teams that progress to the NBA Cup championship game will play 83 games. Notably, the championship game itself will not contribute to the team standings or any statistical records. On the other hand, teams eliminated in the semifinals will complete their 82-game schedule and will not be required to play any additional games.
As for the teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences that are eliminated in the quarterfinals, they will play their 82nd game against each other on one of four scheduled dates: December 12, 13, 15, or 16. Furthermore, the 22 teams failing to qualify for the knockout rounds of the mid-season tournament will have their final two games set for December 12 or 13 and 15 or 16. These matches will be played against other teams eliminated in the group stage, with one game taking place at their home venue and the other on the road.