NBA Cup Courts Unveiled: A Fresh Look Before the October 30th Tipoff

The NBA Cup court lineup displays team colors and court designs in six tournament groups.

The NBA has unveiled its 2026 NBA Cup courts. The visual reveal offers a timely reason to revisit the tournament calendar before the first games arrive later this month.

The official court gallery lets fans compare the full lineup in one place. For viewers, the useful next step is pairing that look with the dates that matter: the first doubleheader, a regional matchup and the point when the competition becomes single elimination.

Opening night belongs to two rivalries

The league’s Group Play schedule starts Friday, October 30th, with New York visiting Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Lakers follow at Golden State at 10 p.m. ET. Both games stream on Prime Video, beginning a run of Friday Cup doubleheaders.

The full Group Play stage contains 60 games and ends November 27th. The national television slate also includes NBC and ESPN, so the opening platform is not the only place viewers will need to look during the tournament.

Circle Washington’s November date

For fans following the Wizards, Boston’s visit to Washington is scheduled for Tuesday, November 24th, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Dallas at Denver follows at 10 p.m. ET. That Washington game offers a nearby point of interest within the broader national schedule.

The eight-team knockout field then moves into quarterfinals on December 4th and December 5th. Semifinals are scheduled for December 8th and/or December 9th, with the championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on December 11th.

A viewing guide, not a prediction

The designs can start the conversation, but they do not tell us which teams will advance. For that, the results still have to arrive. Treat the reveal as a preview of the presentation and the schedule as the practical tool for following the competition.

Our NBA China Games viewing guide offers additional context from the league’s preseason calendar. As the regular season approaches, keeping exhibition dates and tournament dates separate will make it easier to follow what each game represents.