FILE–Denver Nuggets cheerleaders practice on the new floor installed for the league’s in-season tournament, now known as the NBA Cup. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Now known as the NBA Cup, the league will kick off its second in-season tournament Tuesday with a schedule of eight games.
Known as the NBA In-Season Tournament last year, the Los Angeles Lakers won the first season inside of the season when they defeated the Indiana Pacers 123-109 in the title game Dec. 9 at Las Vegas.
The newly branded NBA Cup again will open with a round-robin format of five teams in six groups that were formed based on last season’s standings:
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West Group A: Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
West Group B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs
West Group C: Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies
East Group A: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets
East Group B: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons
East Group C: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards
Group stage games will take place across four Tuesdays (Nov. 12, Nov. 19, Nov. 26 and Dec. 3) and three Fridays (Nov. 15, Nov. 22 and Nov. 29). The quarterfinals of the single-elimination knockout bracket will be played Dec. 10 and 11.
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The tournament will shift from NBA team markets to Las Vegas, where T-Mobile Arena (home of the NHL’s Golden Knights) will host the semifinals on Dec. 14 and the championship game on Dec. 17.
All games, except for the NBA Cup championship game, will count toward the regular-season standings. Players on the championship-winning team receive $500,000 each, while players on the runner-up team get $200,000 each. –Field Level Media