With three weeks of basketball now within the books, the league has kicked off its latest regular-season occasion: the NBA Cup. On Tuesday, the league’s second annual in-season match started. There are 12 extra video games on the NBA Cup schedule Friday evening. All 30 groups — cut up into six five-team teams — are collaborating and the match will as soon as once more culminate with a remaining 4 in Las Vegas in December. The Lakers gained the primary iteration of the occasion in 2023 and can attempt to defend their title.

So, what do it is advisable to know earlier than the motion begins? I am so glad you requested. Under we’ll clarify every little thing there’s to know concerning the NBA Cup to get you prepared for what the league hopes will turn out to be an autumn fixture transferring ahead.

NBA Cup format

The 30 NBA groups have been divided into six teams of 5. These six teams function three teams of Western Convention groups and three teams of Jap Convention groups. Every staff will play every staff in its group as soon as, and as soon as group play concludes, the six group winners together with one wild card staff per convention will advance to the knockout stage. All video games from this level ahead are single-elimination. The quarterfinals shall be performed in house venues. The semifinals and finals shall be held in Las Vegas. Sounds easy sufficient, proper?

How do they determine who advances?

In an ideal world, it could get settled fully organically with six undefeated group champions and a single 3-1 staff in every convention. Realistically, although, there shall be ties to be damaged, and the league has arrange tiebreakers for use solely for the match:

• If two groups are tied in the identical group, head-to-head document splits their tie.
• Level-differential in group play is the second tie-breaker.
• Whole factors scored in group play is third.
• Report from the 2023-24 season is fourth.
• If all of these tiebreakers fail, a random drawing shall be used.

Whereas this isn’t a tiebreaker, it must be famous that the 2 conferences shall be stored separate till the finals. Groups will play groups in their very own convention within the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Who’s in every group?

The teams have been decided by a mix of random drawing and document from final season. Groups inside every convention have been put into considered one of 5 pots: one for the groups with the three finest information in that convention final season, one for the following three finest groups, and so forth. Every group options one staff from every of the 5 convention pots. Under are the 5 teams, as revealed by the league over the summer time.

When are the video games?

Group play video games shall be performed on Tuesdays and Fridays from Nov. 12 till Dec. 6. Quarterfinal video games shall be performed at house venues on Dec. 10 and 11. The semifinals shall be performed in Las Vegas on Dec. 14. Lastly, the championship shall be performed on Dec. 17 in Las Vegas. In the meantime, the 22 groups that do not attain the knockout stage will play two extra regular-season video games in opposition to opponents that have not but been decided on Dec. 12 or Dec. 13 and Dec. 15 or Dec. 16, whereas the 4 shedding quarterfinal groups will play yet another regular-season sport on a type of dates. 

This is the schedule for the second evening of video games on Friday.

NBA Cup schedule: Nov. 15

• Pacers vs. Warmth, 7 p.m.
• Magic vs. 76ers, 7 p.m.
• Raptors vs. Pistons, 7 p.m.
• Hawks vs. Wizards, 7:30 p.m.
• Cavaliers vs. Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
• Knicks vs. Nets, 7:30 p.m.
• Spurs vs. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.
• Rockets vs. Clippers, 8 p.m.
• Pelicans vs. Nuggets, 8 p.m.
• Thunder vs. Suns, 8 p.m.
• Warriors vs. Grizzlies, 10 p.m.
• Kings vs. Timberwolves, 10 p.m.

What’s totally different this 12 months?

Nicely, we will begin with the identify. It is the In-Season Match no extra. Now, it is formally the Emirates NBA Cup. However, extra noticeably, the courts additionally received a redesign. Final 12 months’s courts have been specifically designed to make them stand out for the match, and whereas the league is utilizing distinctive courts once more this 12 months, they will not function the runway throughout the center of the court docket. They may nonetheless function the match’s trophy at middle court docket, and they’re going to all function the house staff’s colours, however as an alternative of the runway, they may function concentric circles in barely totally different shades. 

What’s the prize?

You will see loads of the match’s trophy as it should, once more, be featured at middle court docket for all 30 groups throughout match video games. Nevertheless, gamers may earn cash based mostly on how far their staff advances. Gamers on the profitable staff obtain a $500,000 bonus. Dropping within the championship sport nets a $200,000 bonus, whereas the semifinals ($100,000) and quarterfinals ($50,000) earn barely much less from there. Lastly, a media vote after the championship sport will decide the match’s MVP in addition to an All-Match Group.

Who’re the favorites?

Under are the percentages for all 30 groups to win the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup in keeping with FanDuel:

A few of these odds might look a bit out of whack to you. It’s kind of unusual seeing, say, the 2-8 Bucks to this point forward of the 8-2 Suns. Bear in mind, although, your group means an important deal right here. The Western Convention is solely deeper than the East, and as such, the most effective groups within the East simply have a better street to the championship than these West groups do. 

Take the Celtics and Cavaliers for instance. Positive, they need to play one another of their group, however additionally they get three far simpler opponents within the Hawks, Bulls and Wizards. Earlier than you make any wager or choose on this match, examine who their group-play opponents are. That’s largely what’s informing these odds.