The NBA has announced the schedule for the 2024-25 Emirates NBA Cup, introducing an exciting new tournament format to the league's competitive landscape. Fans will be eager to witness the high-stakes action that the NBA Cup promises, featuring a blend of marquee matchups and strategic group-stage play that will culminate in an electrifying climax in Las Vegas.
An Exciting New Addition
The NBA Cup marks a novel foray for the league, adding a tournament-style series to its already packed calendar. The group stage games are set for Tuesdays and Fridays, beginning on November 12 and spanning across several dates: November 12, 19, 26, and December 3. Each NBA team will play four group stage games, with the competition divided into six groups: East Group A, East Group B, East Group C, West Group A, West Group B, and West Group C. Each group contains five teams, making for an intensely competitive setup as only the top teams and the best second-place finishers from each conference will advance to the knockout rounds.
Key Matchups to Watch
Highlighting the NBA Cup’s group stage, November 12 will see Klay Thompson return to the Bay Area for a game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. Thompson, who signed a three-year, $50 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, will undoubtedly be the center of attention in what promises to be an emotional contest.
Opening night of the NBA Cup also features the New York Knicks taking on the Philadelphia 76ers in the first game of a national doubleheader. On November 15, the Los Angeles Lakers open their campaign against the San Antonio Spurs, while the Golden State Warriors face off against the Memphis Grizzlies, providing fans with a jam-packed evening of top-tier basketball.
November 29 will be a standout day as well, packed with multiple exciting matchups. The Los Angeles Clippers will travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves, the Thunder will clash with the Lakers in Los Angeles, the Knicks will battle the Hornets, the Cavaliers will take on the Hawks, and the Pelicans will go head-to-head with the Grizzlies.
Road to Las Vegas
The group stage's intensity will build towards the quarterfinals, scheduled for December 10 and 11. These critical games will be held at the higher-seeded teams' venues, adding an extra layer of incentive for teams to excel during the group stages. The semifinals and championship game will then shift to the vibrant city of Las Vegas, with the semifinals set for December 14 and the championship game on December 17. The excitement and spectacle of Las Vegas will provide a fitting backdrop for the climactic stages of the NBA Cup.
Additional Noteworthy Games
On November 19, fans can look forward to the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder facing the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio. The November 26 matchups will feature the Milwaukee Bucks playing against the Miami Heat in Miami, and the Lakers squaring off with the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix.
December 3 will see the action continue with the Orlando Magic facing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, and the Warriors playing against the Nuggets in Denver, rounding off the group stages with exciting confrontations that are sure to have significant implications for the knockout rounds.
The Emirates NBA Cup is poised to add a fresh competitive edge and a new form of excitement to the NBA season. As teams vie for supremacy in this new tournament, fans will relish the added intensity and the high-stakes drama that will unfold on the road to Las Vegas.