The Los Angeles Lakers made history during the 2023-24 season by becoming the first ever NBA In-Season Tournament Champions. While the tournament was met with some criticism, it has brought excitement to the early part of the regular season that was not previously there.
The league made some changes going into the tournament’s second season, rebranding it as the Emirates NBA Cup. The Lakers have been unable to replicate their success in the two seasons since the change, with the Milwaukee Bucks winning it in 2024-25 and the New York Knicks becoming the first team to win both the NBA Cup and actual NBA championship in 2025-26.
Now, the new-look Lakers will look to get back into the Emirates NBA Cup landscape, and the beginning of that process was revealed with the formal groupings.
The Lakers are in West Group C with last season’s NBA Cup runner-up and Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.
2026 NBA Cup groups
West Group A: Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz
West Group B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, L.A. Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies
West Group C: Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, 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
NBA Cup changes for 2026-27
The format for the tournament will only slightly change this year. Each team will play four group stage games on “Cup Nights” between Oct. 30 and Nov. 27 on Friday nights only. There also are going to be specialty “Cup Nights” on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Following that, eight teams will advance to the knockout stage, each of the six group winners as well as one wildcard team in each conference.
The quarterfinals and semifinals of the Emirates NBA Cup will take place on Dec. 4 and 5, and Dec. 8 and 9 in team markets — only the quarterfinals were in home markets last season — with the final changing locations to Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, on Friday, Dec. 11.
The full schedule for the Emirates NBA Cup will be released at a later date.
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