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Last verified: August 3, 2026. I rechecked the NBA’s current 2026 groups, key dates, and FAQ; the complete Group Play game and broadcast schedule is still officially pending its August release.
Group Play: October 30–November 27, 2026
Knockout Rounds: December 4–11, 2026
Championship: Friday, December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Schedule status: Groups and Cup Nights confirmed; game-by-game Group Play schedule and broadcasters still pending
The Emirates NBA Cup 2026 begins Friday, October 30 and ends with the Championship on Friday, December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. All 30 NBA teams participate, with four Group Play games per team followed by an eight-team single-elimination knockout stage.
The NBA says every Knockout Round game will stream on Prime Video. The complete Group Play matchups, start times and broadcast assignments have not been released yet; the league's official FAQ says they will be announced in August. This guide will be updated when that schedule becomes official.
NBA Cup 2026 key dates
| Stage | Confirmed date or window | Current viewing status |
|---|---|---|
| Group Play begins | Friday, October 30 | NBA key dates say the tournament tips off on Prime Video; complete matchup and broadcaster list pending |
| Cup Night | Friday, November 6 | Matchups, times and broadcasters pending |
| Cup Night | Friday, November 13 | Matchups, times and broadcasters pending |
| Cup Night | Friday, November 20 | Matchups, times and broadcasters pending |
| Extra Cup Night | Tuesday, November 24 | Matchups, times and broadcasters pending |
| Extra Cup Night | Wednesday, November 25 | Matchups, times and broadcasters pending |
| Group Play concludes | Friday, November 27 | Matchups, times and broadcasters pending |
| Quarterfinals | Friday–Saturday, December 4–5 | Every game on Prime Video; teams and times pending |
| Semifinals | Tuesday and/or Wednesday, December 8–9 | Every game on Prime Video; teams and times pending |
| Championship | Friday, December 11 | Prime Video; Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis; time pending |
The dates come from the NBA's official 2026 groups announcement and NBA Cup FAQ. Recheck the official NBA Cup hub before every Cup Night.
Do not use a 2025 schedule as a substitute. The weekday pattern is similar, but the teams, dates, broadcasters and start times are different in 2026.
NBA Cup 2026 groups
All 30 teams were placed into six groups of five—three in each conference—using pots based on their 2025–26 regular-season records.
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| West Group A | Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz |
| West Group B | Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies |
| West Group C | San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings |
| East Group A | Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets |
| East Group B | New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers |
| East Group C | Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards |
Each team plays the other four teams in its group once: two games at home and two on the road. The exact home-and-away assignments remain pending until the NBA publishes the schedule.
Where to watch the NBA Cup 2026
Prime Video
The NBA's current 2026 FAQ says all games in the Knockout Rounds will stream on Prime Video. That covers the four quarterfinals, two semifinals and Championship.
The NBA's 2026 key-dates page also says Group Play tips off on Prime Video on October 30. It does not establish Prime Video as the exclusive home of every Group Play game. The complete Group Play broadcast schedule will be announced in August.
Prime Video is included with a US Amazon Prime membership, currently $14.99 per month or $139 per year. Amazon advertises a 30-day trial for eligible new members. Eligibility and renewal are account-specific.
Amazon also offers Prime Video as a standalone service in the US. Because Amazon's current general information emphasizes the full Prime price and its checkout can present account-specific options, verify the available standalone price on your account before subscribing.
Prime Video Ultra costs an additional $4.99 per month and adds premium video features, but it is not required merely to access included NBA games. Amazon says live sports may still contain ads even with Ultra.
See Amazon's current Prime Video overview, live sports guide and Prime Video Ultra terms before paying.
Other national and local broadcasts
The NBA's 11-year US agreements place national games across Prime Video, ABC/ESPN and NBC/Peacock through the 2035–36 season. That rights framework does not identify the broadcaster for a specific 2026 Group Play matchup.
Group Play games are regular-season games and may also be assigned to national or local partners. Local access can differ by team market and may use a regional sports network, over-the-air station, team streaming service or participating TV provider.
Wait for the official game-by-game schedule before buying a service for a particular team. Start2Watch will add a table of every matchup, tipoff time, national broadcaster and confirmed local route when the NBA releases it.
Read the NBA's official US media-agreement announcement for the long-term rights framework.
NBA League Pass
NBA League Pass is useful for eligible out-of-market games, replays and condensed versions, but it is not a universal live solution in the United States.
The NBA's current rules say US blackouts include:
- The viewer's local NBA team or teams
- Every nationally broadcast game
- NBA Cup semifinals and the Championship for live League Pass viewing
Nationally televised games become available on League Pass on demand at 6:00 a.m. ET the following day. Locally televised games become available three days after the live broadcast. An active League Pass subscription is required for full and condensed replays.
Check the official League Pass blackout rules and enter the viewing ZIP code on the purchase page before subscribing. Do not assume that “League Pass” means every NBA Cup game is live in the US.
Prime Video devices and features
Prime Video supports live streaming across major device categories, including:
- Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
- Android phones and tablets
- iPhone and iPad
- Supported smart TVs
- Roku and other supported media players
- PlayStation and Xbox consoles
- Current web browsers on Windows, macOS, Chrome OS and Linux
Amazon says live sports are available on more than 650 connected devices through the Prime Video app. Exact video quality, surround sound, captions and live-stream support depend on the model, app version and connection.
The official Prime Video device help confirms live support on current Android, iOS and Windows apps. Amazon's Fire TV device page lists live streaming on compatible Fire TV software.
Update the app before the first Cup Night. A device that plays on-demand movies may still need an app or operating-system update for live sports.
Replays, Rapid Recap and League Pass delays
Prime Video introduced Rapid Recap for its NBA coverage: viewers joining late can watch a short curated highlight package before moving into the live stream. Availability should be confirmed on each 2026 event tile.
Prime's 2026 NBA Cup replay window has not been stated in the official sources reviewed for this guide. Do not assume a permanent full replay merely because the live game is on Prime.
League Pass has clearer published replay rules:
- National broadcast: full and condensed replay from 6:00 a.m. ET the next day in the US
- Local broadcast: replay three days after the game in the US
- League Pass Premium: offline downloads of eligible full games, condensed games and quick recaps; downloaded games expire after 30 days
Check both the Prime Video event tile and the NBA app before relying on delayed viewing.
Can I watch the NBA Cup for free?
No complete licensed free stream for every 2026 NBA Cup game has been announced.
Legitimate opportunities may include:
- A 30-day Amazon Prime trial for eligible new members
- A Group Play or knockout game assigned to an over-the-air local or national station
- Free NBA highlights after games
- Live NBA audio for games blacked out on League Pass under the NBA's current rules
These are not interchangeable. A trial renews unless cancelled, antenna reception depends on location, and a free highlight is not a live game.
Do not rely on websites selling shared Prime accounts or League Pass credentials. Start2Watch does not link to unauthorized streams or recommend bypassing local and national blackouts.
How the NBA Cup format works
Group Play
Each team plays four designated Group Play games. These games count in both the Cup standings and the 82-game regular-season record.
The three group winners in each conference advance. One wild-card team from each conference also advances, producing eight knockout teams.
Tiebreakers
The NBA's official Cup material should be consulted for the final 2026 tiebreaking order. Do not publish “clinched” or “eliminated” scenarios from unofficial standings calculators.
Start2Watch will add official standings and qualification explanations only after games begin and the NBA publishes the relevant records and point differentials.
Knockout Rounds
The quarterfinals and semifinals are single-elimination games in NBA team markets. The Championship is a neutral-site game at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Every Cup game counts toward the regular-season standings except the Championship. Teams still play an 82-game regular season.
Set up the stream before October 30
- Wait for the NBA's game-by-game Group Play schedule and broadcast announcement.
- Identify the exact broadcaster for the team and matchup you want.
- Check local blackouts with the viewing ZIP code.
- Confirm Prime or League Pass trial eligibility and renewal date.
- Update the Prime Video or NBA app and the device operating system.
- Test another live program on the same device and network.
- Open the event tile 10 to 15 minutes before tipoff.
Use Start2Watch's internet speed guide for HD and 4K streaming to plan bandwidth. If the game buffers, follow the stream buffering diagnostic. Fire TV users can use the Firestick Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide.
NBA Cup 2026 FAQs
When does the NBA Cup 2026 start?
Group Play begins Friday, October 30. Cup Nights continue through November 27, followed by the quarterfinals December 4–5, semifinals December 8 and/or 9, and Championship December 11.
Is the complete NBA Cup schedule available?
Not yet. The NBA has confirmed the groups and Cup Nights, but its official FAQ says the game and broadcast schedules for Group Play will be announced in August.
Is every NBA Cup game on Prime Video?
Every Knockout Round game will stream on Prime Video. The NBA says Group Play tips off on Prime on October 30, but the complete Group Play broadcast assignments are still pending.
How much is Prime Video for the NBA Cup?
Prime Video is included with US Amazon Prime at $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. Eligible new members may receive a 30-day trial. Prime Video Ultra is an optional $4.99 monthly upgrade and is not required simply to watch included NBA games.
Can I watch the NBA Cup on League Pass?
Some eligible out-of-market Group Play and knockout games may be available, but US local and national blackouts apply. The NBA specifically says the Cup semifinals and Championship are unavailable live through US League Pass.
Where is the NBA Cup final?
The 2026 Championship will be played Friday, December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The teams and tipoff time remain pending.
Do NBA Cup games count in the standings?
Yes. Every Group Play and knockout game counts toward the regular-season standings except the Championship.
Is there a free NBA Cup stream?
No complete licensed free stream has been announced. Eligible new Amazon Prime members may qualify for a trial, and specific games may later receive free over-the-air coverage. Confirm each matchup after the broadcast schedule is released.
Verification and update policy
This guide was verified on August 2, 2026 using official NBA, NBA Help Center, Prime Video and Amazon sources for the groups, dates, format, current rights, Prime prices and trial, devices, League Pass blackouts, replay delays and legitimate free options.
The NBA has explicitly scheduled its game and broadcast announcement for August. Start2Watch will update this page with every Group Play matchup, date, tipoff time, Prime/ABC/ESPN/NBC/Peacock assignment, confirmed local route and replay information when the league releases that schedule. It will be checked again within 48 hours of the first Cup Night.
Start2Watch does not sell subscriptions, distribute credentials or link to unauthorized streams.