NBA Cup Bracket
Predict the 2026 NBA Cup knockout rounds. The eight-team bracket is seeded from the current group standings; pick the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
My 2026 NBA Cup bracket
East
Quarterfinals · Dec 4–5
Higher seed hosts · 4 = wild card
Semifinal · Dec 8–9
Higher seed hosts
NBA Cup Championship
Fri, Dec 11 · Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
West
Quarterfinals · Dec 4–5
Higher seed hosts · 4 = wild card
Semifinal · Dec 8–9
Higher seed hosts
NBA Cup group standings
Group-play records through November 6. Ties are shown in tiebreaker order (head-to-head, then point differential).
| Detroit Pistons · leads | 1-0 |
| Orlando Magic | 1-0 |
| Toronto Raptors | 1-1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 0-1 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 0-1 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers · leads | 1-0 |
| Miami Heat · wild card | 1-0 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1-1 |
| New York Knicks | 0-1 |
| Indiana Pacers | 0-1 |
| Boston Celtics · leads | 2-0 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1-0 |
| Washington Wizards | 1-1 |
| Chicago Bulls | 0-1 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 0-2 |
| Dallas Mavericks · leads | 2-0 |
| Denver Nuggets | 1-0 |
| Houston Rockets | 0-1 |
| Phoenix Suns | 0-1 |
| Utah Jazz | 0-1 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves · leads | 2-0 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder · wild card | 1-0 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 0-1 |
| LA Clippers | 0-1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 0-1 |
| Golden State Warriors · leads | 1-0 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1-0 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1-1 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 0-1 |
| Sacramento Kings | 0-1 |
2026 NBA Cup schedule
- Group play: October 30, November 6, 13, 20, 24, 25 and 27
- Quarterfinals: December 4–5, at the higher seed
- Semifinals: December 8–9, at the higher seed
- Championship: Friday, December 11, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
NBA Cup bracket FAQ
How does the NBA Cup work?▼
All 30 teams are drawn into six groups of five, three per conference, and play each group rival once on Cup nights in November. The six group winners and one wild card per conference (the best second-placed team) reach the knockout rounds: quarterfinals, semifinals and a one-game final.
How are the NBA Cup knockout teams seeded?▼
In each conference the three group winners are seeded 1 to 3 by their group-play record and the wild card is the 4 seed. The 1 seed hosts the wild card and the 2 seed hosts the 3. East and West teams only meet in the final.
What are the NBA Cup group tiebreakers?▼
Head-to-head record in group play, then point differential in group play (overtime counts as zero), then total points scored in group play, then the 2025-26 regular-season record, then a random drawing. Head-to-head is skipped when ranking the wild-card candidates.
When and where are the NBA Cup knockout games?▼
Quarterfinals on December 4–5 and semifinals on December 8–9, all at the higher seed's arena. The championship is on Friday, December 11, 2026 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the only neutral-site game of the Cup.
Do NBA Cup games count in the standings?▼
Group games and the knockout games up to the semifinals count toward the regular season. The championship game does not count in the standings.
Can I print or share my bracket?▼
Yes. Print puts only the bracket on the page, and Share bracket copies your finalists and champion with a link.
Play the NBA grid
Name a player for every team and college square, with a new board every day.
Play the NBA grid