The Los Angeles Lakers will kick off their NBA Cup title defense on Nov. 15 in San Antonio. They will face Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. On Nov. 12, Klay Thompson will return to Golden State, but as a Dallas Mavericks player.
NBA Cup Group Play Schedule
The NBA has announced the group play schedule. Games will be held on Tuesdays and Fridays from Nov. 12 to Dec. 3. Each team will play four games within its five-team group.
Key Dates and Venues
LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the Lakers to a perfect 7-0 record in the tournament last season. They won the final against the Indiana Pacers in Las Vegas. This year, the semifinals will take place in Las Vegas on Dec. 14, with the final set for Dec. 17.
Notable Storylines
The NBA Cup promises several exciting storylines. Klay Thompson will face his former team, the Warriors, after joining the Mavericks. Additionally, the Lakers will encounter Wembanyama, whom James and Davis previously faced in the Paris Olympics.
Season Schedule and Format
The NBA Cup games will count towards the regular-season standings, except the final in Las Vegas. The final will be treated as an extra 83rd game for both teams.
Teams will play 80 regular-season games. The remaining games will include either NBA Cup playoffs or additional fixtures for teams not making the tournament quarterfinals. Teams losing in the quarterfinals will play an extra game, effectively making it their 82nd game.
NBA Cup Format Details
The group stage will feature 60 games. Key dates include:
Nov. 12: Eight games
Nov. 15: Twelve games
Nov. 19: Six games
Nov. 22: Eight games
Nov. 26: Five games
Nov. 29: Ten games
Dec. 3: Final 11 games
Each team will play four group games, two at home and two away. The top team from each group, plus one wild-card team per conference, will advance to the quarterfinals.
Group Play Matchups
East Group A
Nov. 12: New York vs. Philadelphia; Charlotte vs. Orlando
Nov. 15: Brooklyn vs. New York; Philadelphia vs. Orlando
Nov. 19: Charlotte vs. Brooklyn
Nov. 22: Brooklyn vs. Philadelphia
Nov. 29: New York vs. Charlotte; Orlando vs. Brooklyn
Dec. 3: Philadelphia vs. Charlotte; Orlando vs. New York
East Group B
Nov. 12: Miami vs. Detroit; Toronto vs. Milwaukee
Nov. 15: Miami vs. Indiana; Detroit vs. Toronto
Nov. 22: Indiana vs. Milwaukee
Nov. 26: Milwaukee vs. Miami
Nov. 29: Toronto vs. Miami; Detroit vs. Indiana
Dec. 3: Milwaukee vs. Detroit; Indiana vs. Toronto
East Group C
Nov. 12: Atlanta vs. Boston
Nov. 15: Chicago vs. Cleveland; Washington vs. Atlanta
Nov. 19: Cleveland vs. Boston
Nov. 22: Atlanta vs. Chicago; Boston vs. Washington
Nov. 26: Chicago vs. Washington
Nov. 29: Boston vs. Chicago; Cleveland vs. Atlanta
Dec. 3: Washington vs. Cleveland
West Group A
Nov. 12: Minnesota vs. Portland
Nov. 15: Minnesota vs. Sacramento; L.A. Clippers vs. Houston
Nov. 22: Sacramento vs. L.A. Clippers; Portland vs. Houston
Nov. 26: Houston vs. Minnesota
Nov. 29: L.A. Clippers vs. Minnesota; Sacramento vs. Portland
Dec. 3: Houston vs. Sacramento; Portland vs. L.A. Clippers
West Group B
Nov. 12: Phoenix vs. Utah
Nov. 15: L.A. Lakers vs. San Antonio; Phoenix vs. Oklahoma City
Nov. 19: Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio; Utah vs. L.A. Lakers
Nov. 26: L.A. Lakers vs. Phoenix; San Antonio vs. Utah
Nov. 29: Oklahoma City vs. L.A. Lakers
Dec. 3: Utah vs. Oklahoma City; San Antonio vs. Phoenix
West Group C
Nov. 12: Dallas vs. Golden State
Nov. 15: Denver vs. New Orleans; Memphis vs. Golden State
Nov. 19: Denver vs. Memphis; New Orleans vs. Dallas
Nov. 22: Dallas vs. Denver; Golden State vs. New Orleans
Nov. 29: New Orleans vs. Memphis
Dec. 3: Memphis vs. Dallas; Golden State vs. Denver
