While there'll be some waiting until the Larry O'Brien trophy is back up for grabs, the chase for another trophy begins much sooner.
The NBA announced the groups for its annual in-season tournament — the NBA Cup — on Tuesday, set to run from Oct. 30 to Dec. 11.
All 30 NBA teams were randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference, based on win-loss records from the 2025-26 regular season. Each team will play one game against each of the four group opponents during round-robin action (Oct. 30-Nov. 27), upon which the six group winners and one wild card from each conference will advance to the knockout rounds.
The new-look Toronto Raptors headline East Group A, alongside last year's No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets. The Raptors will host the Magic and Nets while visiting the Pistons and Bucks during group play.
The knockout rounds will run from Dec. 4-11, with there being three stages. The quarterfinals (Dec. 4-5), semifinals (Dec. 8 and/or Dec. 9) and championship game (Dec. 11). This year's NBA Cup Final will not take place under the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip, but instead from Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana.
Last year's NBA Cup champions, who also went on to win the NBA championship, were the New York Knicks, who are slotted into a gauntlet-like East Group B. Joining the champs will be the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers.
Here is a full list of each group:
East Group A
Toronto Raptors
Orlando Magic
Milwaukee Bucks
Detroit Pistons
Brooklyn Nets
East Group B
New York Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers
Miami Heat
Philadelphia 76ers
East Group C
Boston Celtics
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Washington Wizards
West Group A
Denver Nuggets
Houston Rockets
Phoenix Suns
Utah Jazz
Dallas Mavericks
West Group B
Oklahoma City Thunder
Minnesota Timberwolves
Los Angeles Clippers
New Orleans Pelicans
Memphis Grizzlies
West Group C
San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles Lakers
Portland Trail Blazers
Golden State Warriors
Sacramento Kings
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