NBA Cup 2026: Start Date, Groups, Tiebreakers and How to Watch

The 2026 NBA Cup begins October 30 and ends with a December 11 championship game at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The final will stream on Prime Video, according to the NBA’s championship announcement.

Group play determines the eight teams that enter the elimination bracket. Once a team reaches that stage, a loss ends its Cup run.

The Groups

The official draw places teams in the following groups. Short team names are used here for readability.

Four games each; six group winners plus two wild cards advance. The NBA’s FAQ explains the qualifying structure.

Dates to Know

Those dates come from the league’s current Cup calendar. Exact start times depend on the game; a date on this table does not establish a time for a matchup that has not yet been determined.

Tiebreakers

Within groups: head-to-head, point differential, points scored, 2025–26 record, then random draw. Overtime scoring is excluded from scoring tiebreakers. Consult the complete rules for multi-team and wild-card applications.

Where to Watch

The NBA’s U.S. national schedule sends Friday Cup doubleheaders to Prime Video, with additional group games on NBC/Peacock and ESPN. Prime carries all seven knockout games. The opening Prime doubleheader on October 30 is Knicks at 76ers at 5:30 p.m. MDT, followed by Lakers at Warriors at 8 p.m. MDT.

These are U.S. national assignments. For a Canadian team’s current viewing listing, use the NBA’s Tap to Watch service and select the relevant location and game.

What Changed for the Semifinals

The semifinals move into team arenas this season. The higher-seeded team in each conference hosts, leaving the championship as the only neutral-site game, under the rule change approved in September 2025.

That changes the viewing and travel question late in the tournament. Reaching a semifinal no longer automatically sends a club to a shared neutral location. The final remains a separate trip to Indianapolis, where Hinkle Fieldhouse offers a 9,100-seat setting and a basketball history that includes the state title game that inspired Hoosiers.