Explainer

2026 NBA Cup Schedule, Groups and How Teams Advance

The 2026 NBA Cup begins October 30, sends eight teams to single-elimination play and ends December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Here are the groups, national TV schedule, tiebreakers and impact on the 82-game season.

Team Pulse

Wembanyama Can Own the Rim. Round 2 Will Ask for More.

San Antonio's Portland closeout gave Spurs fans a real defensive baseline. The next read is whether that paint control survives when Denver or Minnesota makes Victor Wembanyama choose between the rim, the short roll, the glass and foul trouble.

Debate

The Spurs Bought Time Without Selling the Future

San Antonio earned a real patience win by reaching the second round without paying a superstar price. The useful question now is whether the retained core survives the next matchup well enough to keep the front office from reopening the trade file.