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Knicks open their NBA Cup defense at LeBron's 76ers on a 10-game Friday

The NBA Cup's group stage starts tonight with 10 games, led by the champion Knicks in Philadelphia. Every result counts twice, because group play decides who reaches the December knockout rounds.

By Sportskeeda NBA Desk / Published October 30, 2026

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  • The Emirates NBA Cup starts tonight, and the reigning champions open on the road. The New York Knicks, who won both the NBA Cup and the NBA title last season, visit LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the rebuilt Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video. It is a rematch of the Oct. 20 season opener.

    Friday has 10 Cup games in all. Charlotte at Washington tips first at 7 p.m. ET. Chicago at Boston, Detroit at Brooklyn and Orlando at Toronto join the Knicks at 7:30. Indiana at Miami, Houston at Dallas and the Clippers at Minnesota follow at 8. The night closes at 10 p.m. ET with the Lakers at Golden State on Prime and Denver at Phoenix.

    That is a lot of weight for the season's second week. Teams were drawn into groups of five within their conference, and each plays four group games, two at home and two on the road. There is no margin for a slow start. A team that drops tonight's game has three chances left to catch up before the knockout bracket is set.

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  • The rest of group play runs every Friday through Nov. 27, with extra Cup Nights on Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 25. Prime Video carries five straight Friday doubleheaders, starting tonight and ending with Heat at Knicks and Lakers at Spurs on Black Friday.

    The format also leaves a gap in every team's calendar. The NBA set dates and opponents for 80 of each team's 82 games. The last two, played from Dec. 4 through Dec. 10, depend on how group play shakes out. The quarterfinals are Dec. 4 and 5, the semifinals Dec. 8 and/or 9, and the championship Dec. 11, all on Prime Video.

    The Lakers and Warriors meet for the second time this season in the late game, with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves against Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

  • Sources checked October 30, 2026.