Emirates NBA Cup Explained
ESPN’s Richard Jefferson explains the Emirates NBA Cup and shares what you need to know this year.
With the Emirates NBA Cup group play schedule released today, 60 matches are set for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Here are 12 matchups to circle your calendars — two games from each of the six groups — including some playoff matchups, NBA Cup rematches and all-stars facing off against former teams.
East Group A: Knicks, Magic, 76ers, Nets, Hornets
Knicks vs. Sixers
Tuesday, Nov. 12 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
The teams staged an instant classic first-round matchup in the 2024 playoffs — the Knicks had a greater margin of victory (4-2) than total points (650-649). Jalen Brunson averaged 41.8 points over the final four games, Joel Embiid dropped a 50-yard run on a bad knee and Tyrese Maxey scored seven points in 25 seconds to force OT and eventually a Game 6, temporarily extending Philly’s season.
The only thing this series hasn’t given fans is Game 7. Now we get a new chapter with the Emirates NBA Cup matchup.
Nets vs. Magic
Friday, Nov. 29 (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass)
Orlando’s Wagner brothers – Franz and Moritz – have teamed up with Brooklyn’s Dennis Schröder over the past two summers to represent the German national team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup (Germany won) and the 2024 Paris Olympics (placed fourth). Now, they face each other in the match of the tournament during the Emirates NBA Cup.
East Group B: Bucks, Pacers, Heat, Raptors, Pistons
Bucks vs. Pacers
Friday, Nov. 22 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
This matchup gives us 11 meetings between last year’s regular season (4-1 Pacers, including the NBA Cup semifinals) and playoffs (4-2 Pacers in the first round to end the Bucks’ season). During those 11 games, Giannis Antetokounmpo posted two of last season’s top eight scoring performances (54 points and a career-best 64 points), Roosters sniped at who took home a game ball and Tyrese Haliburton played Damian Lillard’s signature „Dame Time.” followed. Celebrating after a clutch bucket to clinch Indy’s victory in the NBA Cup semifinals.
Heat vs. Pistons
Tuesday, Nov. 12 (7 ET, NBA League Pass)
Miami’s Bam Adebayo showed his range by knocking down three 3-pointers over a six-game streak during Team USA’s run to a fifth-straight gold medal. After making just eight triples in his first six NBA seasons, Baum knocked down 15 last season, including a buzzer-beater against the Pistons — a 30-footer from above the arc. His career mark currently stands at 22.1%; Does Bam have more 3s this season and in this group play matchup?
East Group C: Celtics, Cavaliers, Bulls, Hawks, Wizards
Celtics vs. Cavaliers
Tuesday, Nov. 19 (7 ET, TNT)
Championship no., including an Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with Cleveland. Boston’s run to 18. It will be the first time the two teams have met in the playoffs since 2018, the final season of LeBron’s second run in Cleveland. After the Cavs swept the Celtics in 2015, 2017 and 2018, Boston won five games with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combining to average 50.2 points per game.
The Cavs locked up Donovan Mitchell, Jared Allen and Evan Mobley with extensions as they prepare for another playoff run and try to knock the Celtics off their perch. Don’t forget the Cavs stunned Boston last March when Dean Wade drained five 3s and scored 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Hawks vs. Wizards
Friday, Nov. 15 (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass)
The first two picks in the 2024 NBA draft — Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher and Washington’s Alex Sarr — were part of the French Revolution in the draft. Joining No. 6 pick Didjean Challan, France became the first non-U.S. nation to produce three top-10 picks in the same draft.
Both Risacher and Sarr, both 19 years old, are promising prospects in the NBA for years to come. They could soon join the France men’s national team alongside 2023 lottery picks Victor Wembaniama and Bilal Coulibaly.
West Group A: Timberwolves, Clippers, Kings, Rockets, Blazers
Kings vs. Timberwolves
Friday, Nov. 15 (10 a.m. ET, NBA League Pass)
The two teams were in the same group last year and met in Minnesota – where a win for the Wolves would have secured a spot in the quarterfinals. During a matchup between the two Lightning guards, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox (36 points, 12 assists) outscored Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards (35 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) to help them go 3-0 in group play.
The Kings clinched the group in their last group play matchup, seeing off Minnesota.
Timberwolves vs. Clippers
Friday, Nov. 29 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
The regular season ended with four teams in a back-and-forth battle for the top spot in the Western Conference: the Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves and Clippers who finished in that order. The Wolves won the season series with the Clippers 3-1, and two games were decided by four points or fewer.
LA will look a little different following the departure of Paul George, with a new logo, new uniforms and a New stadium. The Wolves, however, are at it again with the same core that helped them reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years.
West Group B: Thunder, Suns, Lakers, Jazz, Spurs
Thunder vs. Spurs
Tuesday, Nov. 19 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Welcome to season two of Victor Wembaniama vs. Set Holmgren. The big men finished one and two in last year’s race for Kia Rookie. Although Wembey won the award unanimously, Chet finished the head-to-head matches 2-1.
Holmgren and the Thunder finished first in the West last season, while Wembaniama led the Spurs to a 22-60 record entering his sophomore season.
Lakers vs. Suns
Tuesday, November 26 (10 ET, TNT)
After nearly five years between tournaments (December 25, 2018 to October 26, 2023), Kevin Durant and LeBron met five times last year, including two in the NBA Cup — first in group play and then again in the quarterfinals. LeBron and the Lakers won both meetings, going 7-0 for the inaugural championship.
Durant and James teamed up to help the United States win their fifth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics, but they will compete again for NBA honors as they continue to accumulate accolades.
West Group C: Nuggets, Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors, Grizzlies
Mavericks vs. Warriors
Tuesday, November 12 (10 ET, TNT)
In one of the biggest moves of the offseason, Klay Thompson left Golden State in a sign-and-trade deal with Dallas. After 11 years and four championships with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and the Warriors, Thompson begins a new chapter with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Mavs. The Emirates NBA Cup will provide a stage for the first Clay-Warriors reunion.
After more than a decade of watching Splash Bros. 3s rain down on enemies, now we get to see them do it against each other.
Warriors vs. Nuggets
Tuesday, December 3 (10 ET, TNT)
The multiple-time NBA MVP winner hit a 40-foot game-winner at the buzzer — it looks like Steph Curry, but in the Feb. 25 matchup between the Warriors and Nuggets, it was Nikola Jokic who hit it. One of the scenes of the season to give the Nuggets a 130-127 win.
Jokic finished with 32 points, 16 boards and 16 assists in his third career 30/15/15 game. Only eight players have ever accomplished those marks in a single game, and only Oscar Robertson (11) has more games than Joker.