Emirates NBA Cup Ultimate Guide: How it works, what's at stake ...
The second edition of the NBA’s in-season tournament begins on Wednesday, November 13 [AEDT], and this year, it has undergone a rebrand.
The first edition of the event was simply called the in-season tournament, but it is now known as the Emirates NBA Cup.
Last year, the LeBron James and the LA Lakers were the inaugural winners.
So how does the tournament work, what is in it for the players and what does the schedule look like? Plus, how will it impact the regular season?
Here is the answer to those questions and more in our ultimate guide with everything you need to know ahead of the tournament tipping off.
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HOW DOES IT WORK AND WHEN IS IT?
Six groups of five teams each, three from the Eastern Conference and three from the Western Conference, were randomly drawn based on last season’s records.
Each team will play two home and two road games in group play, facing each group rival once.
Those games will be played on Wednesdays and Saturdays [AEDT] in November starting November 13, regular-season contests counting as tournament play.
Three group winners and the next-best team overall from each conference will advance to the eight-team knockout quarter-finals round and games on December 10 and 11.
Those winners will advance to the semi-finals in Vegas on December 14 with the championship match three nights later.
WHAT IS ON THE LINE?
The 67 games across both stages of the in-season tournament will count toward the regular-season standings except the final. All clubs will continue to play 82 regular-season games in the 2024-25 season.
Teams that do not make it out of the group and knockout stages will play games on December 13, 14, 15 and 16 that count towards the regular season schedule.
As for the teams that reach the championship, that will actually bring the season total to 83 games so the championship game will not count towards regular-season standings.
So, what is on the line for those two teams? Well, the team that wins the tournament will take home the NBA Cup.
In terms of prizemoney, the breakdown is below (AUD)
Championship-winning team: $789,759 for each player.
Losing Championship team: $315,903 for each player.
Losing semi-finalists: $157,929 for each player.
Losing quarter-finalists: $78,964 for each player.
In addition, a Most Valuable Player will be named following the conclusion of the tournament while an All-Tournament Team will also be selected.
Selection will be based on the players’ performance in both Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers hoist the trophy with his teammates after winning the championship game of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on December 09, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)Source: Getty ImagesWHO IS IN EACH GROUP?
There are three groups of five from each conference. Each group was randomly determined via a random drawing back in July.
Note: Groups will differ year on year.
Eastern Conference
East Group A - New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets
East Group B - Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons
East Group C - Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards
Western Conference
West Group A - Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
West Group B - Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs
West Group C - Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies
NBA CUP SCHEDULE - GROUP PLAY (AEDT)
Wed, Nov. 13
Celtics vs. Hawks (East C)
Pistons vs. Heat (East B)
Magic vs. Hornets (East A)
76ers vs. Knicks (East A)
Bucks vs. Raptors (East B)
Jazz vs. Suns (West B)
Warriors vs. Mavericks (West C)
Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves (West A)
Sat, Nov. 16
Pacers vs. Heat (East B)
Magic vs. 76ers (East A)
Raptors vs. Pistons (East B)
Hawks vs. Wizards (East C)
Cavaliers vs. Bulls (East C)
Knicks vs. Nets (East A)
Spurs vs. Lakers (West B)
Rockets vs. Clippers (West A)
Pelicans vs. Nuggets (West C)
Thunder vs. Suns (West B)
Warriors vs. Grizzlies (West C)
Kings vs. Timberwolves (West A)
Wed, Nov. 20
Celtics vs. Cavaliers (East C)
Nets vs. Hornets (East A)
Grizzlies vs. Nuggets (West C)
Mavericks vs. Pelicans (West C)
Spurs vs. Thunder (West B)
Lakers vs. Jazz (West B)
Sat, Nov. 23
76ers vs. Nets (East A)
Wizards vs. Celtics (East C)
Bucks vs. Pacers (East B)
Hawks vs. Bulls (East C)
Trail Blazers vs. Rockets (West A)
Mavericks vs. Nuggets (West C)
Kings vs. Clippers (West A)
Wed, Nov. 27
Bulls vs. Wizards (East C)
Bucks vs. Heat (East B)
Rockets vs. Timberwolves (West A)
Spurs vs. Jazz (West B)
Lakers vs, Suns (West B)
Warriors vs. Mavericks (West C)
Trail Blazers vs. Timberwolves (West A)
Sat, Nov. 30
Hornets vs. Knicks (East A)
Hawks vs. Cavaliers East C)
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans West C)
Nets vs. Magic (East A)
Timberwolves vs. Clippers (West A
Pacers vs. Pistons (East B)
Heat vs. Raptors (East B)
Bulls vs. Celtics (East C)
Lakers vs, Thunder (West B)
Trail Blazers vs. Kings (West A)
Wed, Dec. 4
Hornets vs. 76ers East A
Cavaliers vs. Wizards East C
Piston vs. Bucks East B
Knicks vs. Magic East A
Raptors vs. Pacers East B
Thunder vs. Jazz West B
Mavericks vs. Grizzlies West C
Suns vs. Spurs West B
Nuggets vs. Warriors West C
Kings vs. Rockets West A.
Clippers vs. Trail Blazers West A
ODDS (via TAB)
Boston Celtics
5.00
Cleveland Cavaliers
9.00
New York Knicks
10.00
Denver Nuggets
11.00
Minnesota Timberwolves
11.00
Oklahoma City Thunder
12.00
Los Angeles Lakers
15.00
Golden State Warriors
15.00
Dallas Mavericks
15.00
Philadelphia 76ers
17.00
Milwaukee Bucks
21.00
Indiana Pacers
31.00
Sacramento Kings
31.00
Los Angeles Clippers
31.00
Miami Heat
31.00
Phoenix Suns
31.00
Houston Rockets
34.00
Memphis Grizzlies
51.00
Orlando Magic
51.00
Chicago Bulls
101.00
Detroit Pistons
151.00
Atlanta Hawks
151.00
Charlotte Hornets
151.00
San Antonio Spurs
151.00
Toronto Raptors
201.00
New Orleans Pelicans
201.00
Brooklyn Nets
251.00
Portland Trail Blazers
251.00
Utah Jazz
251.00
Washington Wizards
251.00
