The regular season may just be 10 days old, but the first night of the NBA Cup is upon us.
The fourth iteration of the league’s annual in-season tournament tips off Friday, Oct. 30, with a slate of 10 games, all of which are part of the Cup.
Among the highlights are a rematch of the marquee regular season opener between the defending NBA champion and defending NBA Cup champion New York Knicks and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers. Just 10 days ago, the Sixers won that matchup, 106-100, in Madison Square Garden, but Friday’s game will be played at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
The nightcap features another rematch of a season opener between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s also the re-up of a feisty matchup between Warriors rookie
Yaxel Lendeborg and Lakers star Luka Dončić, both of whom were engaged in a battle of words during the opener.
Follow along below for live scores from the 10 games, as well as winners and losers from the first night of NBA Cup action:
Stream select NBA Cup games on Prime Video
NBA Cup scores and schedule today
All times p.m. and Eastern
- Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards, 7
- Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics, 7:30
- Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30
- New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30
- Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors, 7:30
- Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat, 8
- Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks, 8
- Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8
- Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 10
- Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, 10
NBA Cup winners
Celtics could have easy run in group East C
There could be a case made for West B (Thunder, Timberwolves, Clippers, Pelicans, Grizzlies) being the lightest group in the NBA Cup, particularly with the injuries facing Oklahoma City and Minnesota, but the Celtics – and the Hawks, to an extent – have the luck of the draw. East C also features the Hornets, Bulls and Wizards, unproven teams that do lack some elite star-level talent. Boston, however, should capitalize and come out on top, perhaps comfortably, which is nice for the Celtics, considering they’re also still incorporating new pieces into the lineup.
NBA Cup losers
All the teams in group of death East B
If there’s one group in the entire NBA Cup that is overly stacked, it’s easily East B. Not only does it feature the defending NBA champion New York Knicks, it also showcases the runners up in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers.
Philly, of course, retooled this offseason and added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, making the Sixers a popular preseason pick for the NBA title. Miami acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and has struggled to start the season, but a victory Oct. 28 against the Hawks showed that the Heat have plenty of potential if they lean into pick-and-rolls. And the Pacers may be without Tyrese Haliburton, who is nursing a hamstring injury, but Indiana still has plenty of talent. If there’s a group of death in the NBA Cup, it’s this one.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Cup live scores, schedule, winners and losers from group play today
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