# When is the NBA Cup final?

*The championship game is on Friday, December 11, 2026, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, after group play ends on November 27.*

- Type: Explainer
- Section: Sports
- By: Sports Desk
- Published: 2026-11-11T12:55:00-05:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T13:06:34-05:00
- URL: https://factsdesk.com/sports/when-is-the-nba-cup-final/

Topics: [NBA](https://factsdesk.com/topic/nba/), [NBA Cup](https://factsdesk.com/topic/nba-cup/)

## Key facts

- The Emirates NBA Cup 2026 championship game is on Friday, December 11, 2026, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Source: [NBA](https://www.nba.com/news/nba-cup-101). Confirmed 2026-11-11T12:50:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/sports/when-is-the-nba-cup-final/#the-emirates-nba-cup-2026-championship-game-is-on-friday
- The quarterfinals are on December 4 and 5, and the semifinals are on December 8, December 9 or both. Source: [NBA](https://www.nba.com/news/emirates-nba-cup-key-dates-schedule). Confirmed 2026-11-11T12:50:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/sports/when-is-the-nba-cup-final/#the-quarterfinals-are-on-december-4-and-5-and-the-semifinals
- Group play runs through Friday, November 27, and eight teams advance: the six group winners and one wild card from each conference. Source: [NBA](https://www.nba.com/news/nba-cup-101). Confirmed 2026-11-11T12:50:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/sports/when-is-the-nba-cup-final/#group-play-runs-through-friday-november-27-and-eight-teams
- The championship is the only one of the 67 Cup games that does not count toward the regular-season standings. Source: [NBA](https://www.nba.com/news/nba-cup-101). Confirmed 2026-11-11T12:50:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/sports/when-is-the-nba-cup-final/#the-championship-is-the-only-one-of-the-67-cup-games-that
- The New York Knicks won the previous NBA Cup, beating the San Antonio Spurs 124 to 113. Source: [NBA](https://www.nba.com/news/history-emirates-nba-cup-winners-index). Confirmed 2026-11-11T12:50:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/sports/when-is-the-nba-cup-final/#the-new-york-knicks-won-the-previous-nba-cup-beating-the-san

The final of the Emirates NBA Cup 2026 is on Friday, December 11, 2026, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, according to the [league's guide to the tournament](https://www.nba.com/news/nba-cup-101).

## Key dates

| Stage | Dates | Where |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Group play | October 30 to November 27 | Team arenas |
| Quarterfinals | December 4 and 5 | Home arenas of the higher seeds |
| Semifinals | December 8, December 9 or both | Home arenas of the higher seeds |
| Championship | December 11 | Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis |

The remaining group nights on the [league schedule](https://www.nba.com/news/emirates-nba-cup-key-dates-schedule) are November 13, 20, 24, 25 and 27. The league's [guide to the tournament](https://www.nba.com/news/nba-cup-101) says every game in the knockout rounds will be streamed on Prime.

## How teams reach the knockout rounds

All 30 teams were drawn into six groups of five, three groups in each conference. Each team plays the other four teams in its group once. The team with the best record in each group advances, along with one wild card from each conference, which is the second-place team with the best record in group games.

Ties are broken first by the head-to-head result in group play, then by point differential, then by total points scored. Points scored in overtime do not count toward the last two.

## Do the games count?

Group games, quarterfinals and semifinals count as regular-season games, so every team still plays 82. The championship does not count toward a team's record or toward player statistics.

## Past winners

| Season | Final |
| --- | --- |
| 2025-26 | New York Knicks beat San Antonio Spurs, 124-113 |
| 2024-25 | Milwaukee Bucks beat Oklahoma City Thunder, 97-81 |
| 2023-24 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Indiana Pacers, 123-109 |

The results come from the [league's history page](https://www.nba.com/news/history-emirates-nba-cup-winners-index).

This page will be updated at this address when group play ends on November 27 and the eight knockout teams are set, and again after each knockout round.

## Sources

1. [Emirates NBA Cup 101](https://www.nba.com/news/nba-cup-101), NBA, 2026-11-11 (primary source)
2. [Emirates NBA Cup: Key dates and schedule](https://www.nba.com/news/emirates-nba-cup-key-dates-schedule), NBA, 2026-11-11 (primary source)
3. [History of the Emirates NBA Cup](https://www.nba.com/news/history-emirates-nba-cup-winners-index), NBA, 2026-11-11 (primary source)