By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBA has announced a venue shift for the Emirates NBA Cup 2026 championship game on Tuesday, selecting the iconic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to host the winner-take-all final on Friday, December 11.
Deviating from the traditional neutral site of Las Vegas, the league will also host the knockout Quarterfinals on December 4 and 5, followed by the Semifinals on December 8 and 9, directly in the home markets of the higher-seeded teams.
This fourth iteration of the in-season tournament features all 30 teams divided into six distinct groups of five based on the previous season’s standings. In the Western Conference, Group A consists of the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz. Group B features the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Memphis Grizzlies. Group C includes the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, and Sacramento Kings.
Across the Eastern Conference, Group A aligns the Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets. Group B comprises the defending champion New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers. Finally, East Group C matches the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, and Washington Wizards.
Round-robin group play will run from October 30 through November 27, where each squad faces its four group opponents once. The six group winners alongside one wild card team from each conference will advance to the single-elimination knockout phase.
The Knicks, Bucks, and Lakers are the previous franchises to have captured the trophy.
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