NBA Cup in-season tournament schedule: Here’s who and when the Sacramento Kings will play
Group play schedules have been revealed for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup tournament, the league’s second annual in-season competition.
The Kings, one of the top teams in West Group A, will open the group stage against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 12 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The tournament will culminate with the championship game Dec. 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In July, all 30 teams were randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2023-24 regular season. The Kings were placed in West Group A with the Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.
On Tuesday, the NBA unveiled team-by-team schedules for all group stage games. Group play games will be played Nov. 12-Dec. 3 in team markets. Each team will play one game against each opponent in its group with two games at home and two on the road.
After opening group play against the Timberwolves, the Kings will visit the Clippers on Nov. 22. They will then visit the Blazers on Nov. 19 before concluding the group stage at home against the Rockets on Dec. 3.
Eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds, which will feature six group winners and two wild card teams The single-elimination knockout rounds will begin with quarterfinal games in team markets Dec. 10-11 before the tournament moves to Las Vegas for the semifinals and finals Dec. 14 and 17.
All group stage and knockout-round games will count toward the regular-season standings with the exception of the championship game.
West Group C features a loaded pool with the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies.
The Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers in last year’s championship game to claim the inaugural NBA Cup.
Here is a complete list of the group pairings for both conferences.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
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
EASTERN CONFERENCE
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
