2025 Emirates NBA Cup Tips Off Oct. 31
2025-emirates-nba-cup-schedule-groups
The third edition of the Emirates NBA Cup will begin on Halloween night, Oct. 31, less than two weeks after the 2025-26 regular season opens.
Format and stakes
As in the first two years, the league’s 30 clubs are divided into six groups of five—three groups per conference. Each team plays four group games, one against every opponent in its pool. The six group winners plus one wild-card team with the best remaining record move on to single-elimination quarterfinals.
All tournament contests except the championship count toward regular-season standings, giving each club either 82 or 83 total games. Quarterfinal losers play an additional matchup to reach the 82-game mark, while the two finalists will have one game that does not affect standings or statistics.
Key changes for 2025
- Amazon Prime Video will carry most broadcasts, including all knockout games.
- Group play shifts primarily to Friday nights, starting Oct. 31, rather than alternating Tuesdays and Fridays.
- The league reserved Dec. 7-17 for schedule adjustments aimed at reducing back-to-back situations for teams advancing deep into the Cup.
Groups
East A: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
East B: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
East C: New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets
West A: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz
West B: Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans
West C: Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs
Group-play highlights
The opening slate on Oct. 31 features eight matchups, including the Los Angeles Lakers at the Memphis Grizzlies at 9:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video. Other notable dates:
- Nov. 7: Houston Rockets visit the San Antonio Spurs on Prime at 7:30 p.m. ET.
- Nov. 14: Golden State Warriors travel to the Spurs on Prime at 9:30 p.m. ET.
- Nov. 21: Indiana Pacers face the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Prime at 7 p.m. ET.
- Nov. 25-26: A two-day block highlighted by Clippers-Lakers on Peacock (Nov. 25, 11 p.m. ET) and Timberwolves-Thunder on ESPN (Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m. ET).
- Nov. 28: Milwaukee Bucks meet the New York Knicks on Prime at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Knockout rounds in Las Vegas
Quarterfinals are set for Dec. 9-10 at home sites. The four remaining teams will travel to Las Vegas for semifinals on Dec. 13 and the championship on Dec. 16, all airing on Prime. Beginning in 2026, semifinals are expected to move to NBA arenas.
Prize pool and awards
Player payouts rise incrementally each season under the collective bargaining agreement. The 2025 champions will again receive the Emirates NBA Cup trophy, an MVP honor and selection of an all-tournament team.
The full 2025-26 regular-season slate will be finalized once group play ends on Nov. 28, allowing the league to slot the remaining games for teams eliminated before the Vegas rounds.
Source: ESPN
