NBA In-Season Tournament: Everything You Need to Know

The Emirates NBA Cup In-Season Tournament, introduced in 2023, aims to boost fan engagement and increase competition during the NBA regular season before the All-Star Break. It was created to capture attention when NFL and NHL seasons are also active.

Introduction and Purpose

Commissioner Adam Silver explained the reasoning behind the tournament during its launch on July 8, 2023:

“New traditions take time. But, all throughout sports, we are seeing new innovations, and now is the time for this NBA In-Season Tournament.”

Tournament Format

The Emirates NBA Cup consists of two main stages before the Championship game:

Group Play Round: A monthlong phase where teams compete in groups.
Knockout Round: Single-elimination Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

Group Play Details

Group Play starts on Friday, October 31, with “Cup Nights” primarily on Fridays through November, concluding on November 28. Each team faces their four group opponents once, hosting two games and playing two on the road. These matchups are integrated into the regular season schedule.

Knockout Round Schedule

Quarterfinals: Tuesday, December 9 and Wednesday, December 10
Semifinals: Saturday, December 13
Championship Game: Tuesday, December 16

The tournament adds a fresh competitive dimension to the early NBA season, generating excitement and new traditions for players and fans alike.

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Ticketmaster Blog — 2025-11-08