What is the NBA Cup? Groups, Games and 2026 Schedule
The NBA Cup is a season-opening in-season tournament run by the National Basketball Association, in which teams play group-stage games during the regular season. Teams are split into groups, and the games count toward a championship. The Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks open group play against each other on Friday, Oct. 30, in Dallas.
Why it's in the news
The Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks open NBA Cup group play on Friday, Oct. 30, their fourth meeting this month. Injury updates on Sengun, Smart and Marshall have drawn attention ahead of tip-off.
- Nuggets vs Suns — Nuggets face Suns in NBA Cup game on Friday, Oct. 30
- Rockets — Rockets face Mavericks in NBA Cup opener on Friday
Background
The NBA Cup is a tournament held within the National Basketball Association season. Teams compete in group play during the regular season, and the event leads to a final championship. Sources describe it under the name Emirates NBA Cup, and they call it the NBA's most prestigious newest prize.
Group play is the opening stage. Houston and Dallas meet in a Western Conference matchup at American Airlines Center, the Mavericks' arena in Dallas, and the game starts at 8:00 p.m. ET. This is the first NBA Cup game of the season for the Rockets. The two teams have already met three times this month: two preseason games in China and a regular-season game in Houston last Wednesday. Houston won the first preseason game, 128-110.
The Rockets come in 5-0, one of two remaining unbeaten teams, with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Mavericks are 3-2 and riding a two-game win streak after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder. Injury news is also part of the story: Houston center Alperen Sengun and guard Marcus Smart were listed as questionable, and Dallas forward Naji Marshall was questionable with an illness. Dallas forward Caleb Martin is available with a right thumb sprain.
What people are asking
What is the NBA Cup schedule for this matchup?
Houston and Dallas play in the NBA Cup opener on Friday, Oct. 30, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, with tipoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET.
Who are the Rockets and Mavericks playing in the NBA Cup?
The Houston Rockets, who are 5-0, face the Dallas Mavericks, who are 3-2, in the NBA Cup group-play opener.
Where can I watch the Rockets vs. Mavericks game?
Sources list television and streaming guides for the game, including the NBA and local station coverage, but the specific channel details are not stated in the sources available here.