NBA Cup Schedule Set: Knicks Face 76ers and Lakers Visit Warriors on Oct. 30

The NBA Cup schedule kicks off October 30 with a doubleheader featuring the New York Knicks against the Philadelphia 76ers and a Lakers-Warriors clash.

NBA Cup play officially commences on October 30, headlined by the reigning champion New York Knicks hosting the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers traveling to face the Golden State Warriors. This opening slate follows the Knicks' recent double victory over the San Antonio Spurs, whom they defeated in both the NBA Cup final and the NBA Finals last season. The league confirmed the full tournament itinerary on Wednesday, highlighting 15 nationally televised matchups scheduled for broadcast across ESPN, Prime Video, and NBC/Peacock. New York enters the competition as the first winner to refuse to hang a banner acknowledging their NBA Cup achievement. Despite that decision, the franchise successfully ended a 53-year championship drought by securing the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Key details

Before the tournament begins, the NBA will host its opening night on October 20, where the Knicks are scheduled to raise their championship banner during a game against a Philadelphia squad featuring LeBron James, who joined the 76ers following his final free agency decision. The 2026-27 NBA Cup schedule dictates that games will be played every Friday from October 30 through November 27. Additional group stage contests are set for Tuesday, November 24, and Wednesday, November 25. Following the conclusion of group play, the top team from each of the six groups—originally announced in June—will advance to the knockout rounds. Two wild-card teams, one representing each conference, will join them to round out the quarterfinal field on December 4 and 5.

Semi-final matchups are scheduled for December 8 and 9, leading to the championship game on December 11. For the first time, the tournament final will be hosted at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The New York Knicks have two other high-profile Cup games confirmed on the calendar: a November 13 meeting with the Indiana Pacers and a November 27 clash against the Miami Heat. This iteration of the event follows a lineage that began in 2023, when the Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural title under the "in-season tournament" branding. The Milwaukee Bucks followed as winners in 2024. The league's complete 2026-27 regular-season schedule is slated for release on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. The 15 nationally televised Cup games represent a significant portion of the early-season broadcast window, utilizing multiple streaming and cable partners to cover the group and knockout stages.

Latest developments

Group play involves 30 teams divided into six pools of five, with the Knicks positioned in a group that requires them to navigate past the Pacers and Heat to secure an automatic quarterfinal berth. The December 11 final at Hinkle Fieldhouse marks a departure from previous neutral-site locations, bringing the championship to a historic 9,100-seat venue. Financial incentives remain a core component of the tournament, with players on the winning roster eligible for prize money that has increased annually since the 2023 debut. The transition of LeBron James to the 76ers adds a new dynamic to the Eastern Conference bracket, as Philadelphia seeks its first Cup trophy after the Lakers and Bucks claimed the first two editions.

Broadcasting rights for these specific dates are distributed among three major entities, with Prime Video and NBC/Peacock joining ESPN to provide comprehensive coverage of the 67 total games that count toward regular-season standings. Only the championship game on December 11 will not impact the 82-game record. The NBA's decision to release the full 1,230-game calendar on Thursday follows the specific unveiling of these tournament windows, ensuring fans can track the path to Indianapolis. The Knicks' refusal to acknowledge the Cup with a banner remains a unique franchise stance, contrasting with the Lakers' decision to celebrate their 2023 victory. As the October 30 tip-off approaches, the league anticipates high viewership for the Warriors-Lakers nightcap, which remains a staple of the national television rotation regardless of tournament implications.