NBA

NBA Cup 2024 format explained: teams, groups, bracket and matchups

All 30 NBA teams will participate in the 2024 NBA Cup which gets underway on 12 November.

David Reginek

Irish native who switched from the music industry to the world of sport moving from Universal Music to AS in 2017. A keen runner, soccer player and now discovering the world's fastest growing sport of padel. A fútbol fanatic covering LaLiga, MLS, Liga MX and other offbeat stories from the global game. Can always be found rooting for the underdog.

Update: Nov 10th, 2024 17:36 EST

The second edition of the NBA Cup gets underway on 12 November with the competition drawing inspiration from European soccer leagues, which feature in-season cup competitions.

NBA Cup 2024 format explained: teams, groups, bracket and matchups — Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell (24) defends Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) Jayne Kamin-Oncea

The format of the tournament remains the same as last year’s inaugural edition, with 30 NBA teams split into six groups—three Eastern and three Western. Each team plays one game against the other four teams in its group. The winner of each group, along with the team boasting the best record among the non-group winners, will progress to the knockout rounds.

The #EmiratesNBACup tips off next week! 👀

Starting Tuesday, November 12, all 30 teams will compete for the NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing out of Group Play and into the knockout rounds.

The Semifinals and Championship will be held in Las Vegas, December 14 and 17! pic.twitter.com/Z3GurDLktS
— NBA (@NBA) November 6, 2024

Bronny sparks NBA G-League ticket frenzy

NBA

Michael Jordan jersey goes for big money

The quarter finals will take place on 10/11 December with the final stages of the competition moving to Las Vegas with both semi finals taking place on Saturday, 14 December with the final scheduled for three days later at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.

The Los Angeles Lakers are the current NBA Cup holders beating Indiana Pacers 123-109 in the inaugural final.

2024 NBA Cup: schedule

12 November

East Group C: Hawks vs. Celtics (7 p.m. ET)
East Group B: Heat vs. Pistons (7 p.m. ET)
East Group A: Hornets vs. Magic (7 p.m. ET)
East Group A: Knicks vs. 76ers (7:30 p.m.)
East Group B: Raptors vs. Bucks (8 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Suns vs. Jazz (9 p.m. ET)
West Group C: Mavericks vs. Warriors (10 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Timberwolves vs. Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET)

15 November

East Group B: Heat vs. Pacers (7 p.m. ET)
East Group A: 76ers vs. Magic (7 p.m. ET)
East Group B: Pistons vs. Raptors (7 p.m. ET)
East Group C: Wizards vs. Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET)
East Group C: Bulls vs. Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. ET)
East Group A: Nets vs. Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Lakers vs. Spurs (7:30 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Clippers vs. Rockets (8 p.m. ET)
West Group C: Nuggets vs. Pelicans (8 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Suns vs. Thunder (8 p.m. ET)
West Group C: Grizzlies vs. Warriors (10 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Timberwolves vs. Kings (10 p.m. ET)

19 November

East Group C: Cavaliers vs. Celtics (7 p.m. ET)
East Group A: Hornets vs. Nets (7:30 ET)
West Group C: Nuggets vs. Grizzlies (8 p.m. ET)
West Group C: Pelicans vs. Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Thunder vs. Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Jazz vs. Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET)

22 November

East Group A: Nets vs. 76ers (7 p.m. ET)
East Group C: Celtics vs. Wizards (7 p.m. ET)
East Group B: Pacers vs. Bucks (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
East Group C: Hawks vs. Bulls (8 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Trail Blazers vs. Rockets (8 p.m. ET)
West Group C: Warriors vs. Pelicans (8 p.m. ET)
West Group C: Mavericks vs. Nuggets (10 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Kings vs. Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET)

26 November

East Group C: Bulls vs. Wizards (7 p.m. ET)
East Group B: Bucks vs. Heat (7:30 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Rockets vs. Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Spurs vs. Jazz (9 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Lakers vs. Suns (10 p.m. ET)

29 November

East Group A: Knicks vs. Hornets (Noon ET)
East Group C: Cavaliers vs. Hawks (2:30 p.m. ET)
West Group C: Pelicans vs. Grizzlies (5 p.m. ET)
East Group A: Magic vs. Nets (7:30 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Clippers vs. Timberwolves (7:30 p.m. ET)
East Group B: Pistons vs. Pacers (8 p.m. ET)
East Group B: Raptors vs. Heat (8 p.m. ET)
East Group C: Celtics vs. Bulls (8 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Thunder vs. Lakers (10 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Kings vs. Trail Blazers (10 p.m. ET)

3 December

East Group A: 76ers vs. Hornets (7 p.m. ET)
East Group C: Wizards vs. Cavaliers (7 p.m. ET)
East Group B: Bucks vs. Pistons (7 p.m. ET)
East Group A: Magic vs. Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET)
East Group B: Pacers vs. Raptors (7:30 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Jazz vs. Thunder (8 p.m. ET)
West Group C: Grizzlies vs. Mavericks (8:30 p.m. ET)
West Group B: Spurs vs. Suns (9 p.m. ET)
West Group C: Warriors vs. Nuggets (10 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Rockets vs. Kings (10 p.m. ET)
West Group A: Trail Blazers vs. Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass)

Knockout Rounds

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, 10 December
Wednesday, 11 December

Semifinals

14 December (Las Vegas)

Championship Final

17 December (Last Vegas)

*times to be confirmed