The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup group stage opens October 30 with 30 teams split into six groups of five, where each squad plays four games and the top finisher per group plus one conference wildcard advance to December quarterfinals. Defending champion New York Knicks headline a loaded East Group B alongside Cleveland, Philadelphia, Miami, and Indiana, while Oklahoma City anchors the West as a top seed. Recent roster continuity, early-season health reports, and home/away splits within groups will shape advancement odds, as will any load management decisions or injuries that alter rotation depth during the compressed Cup schedule.