CLEVELAND, Ohio — The NBA dropped the 2025 NBA Cup Group Play schedule on Wednesday, and Cleveland’s path through East Group A is officially mapped out.
The Cavs will get two Cup Nights at Rocket Arena and two on the road, all counting toward both the regular-season standings and their quest to reach the knockout round.
On paper, Cleveland is the clear favorite in a group that includes Toronto, Washington, and an Indiana team suddenly without star guard Tyrese Haliburton for the season after an Achilles injury.
But there’s one game that demands a red circle on the calendar — the finale in Atlanta.
**East Group A — Dates and Times**
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* Fri, Oct. 31 — vs. Raptors | 7:30 p.m. ET | Rocket Arena
* Fri, Nov. 7 — at Wizards | 7:00 p.m. ET
* Fri, Nov. 21 — vs. Pacers | 7:00 p.m. ET | Prime Video (national)
* Fri, Nov. 28 — at Hawks | 7:30 p.m. ET
**Matchups and meaning**
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**Oct. 31 vs. Toronto — A first look at the new-look Raptors**
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Cleveland’s Cup opener doubles as its first chance to see Toronto with Brandon Ingram in uniform.
The All-Star forward hasn’t played since being traded north last season due to injury. A healthy Ingram brings shot creation and size on the wing, but the Cavs’ depth and cohesion should give them a clear advantage to start group play 1–0.
**Nov. 7 at Washington — Youth and veterans on a mission**
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The Wizards are a study in contrasts — budding young talent trying to make their mark alongside veterans chasing one more payday or their last chance to stick in the league.
Washington plays loose and free, which can cause problems if the Cavs let their guard down. A clean road win here is the type of businesslike performance Cleveland will need to avoid the scoreboard math that’s tripped them up before.
**Nov. 21 vs. Indiana — National spotlight without their stars**
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This Prime Video showcase is one of just 15 nationally televised group play games, but it won’t feature the Pacers’ two cornerstones.
Tyrese Haliburton is out for the season with an Achilles injury, and Myles Turner left for Milwaukee after Haliburton’s injury altered Indiana’s direction.
In their place, Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard will take on bigger roles, testing themselves against Cleveland’s length and perimeter pressure. It’s still a national stage, but the Cavs should have every opportunity to grab a decisive home win.
**Nov. 28 at Atlanta — The real test**
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Atlanta is the only team in East Group A that can match Cleveland’s talent — and one of the few in the conference that could pose a problem in a seven-game playoff series.
The Hawks’ offseason additions — Luke Kennard’s shooting, Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s defense, and Kristaps Porziņģis’ size and floor spacing — now surround a core of Jalen Johnson, Trae Young, and Dyson Daniels.
It’s a roster with both star power and matchup versatility, the kind that forces adjustments in real time.
And the Cup history between these two teams adds another layer: last season, the Hawks knocked the Cavs out with a 117-101 win that propelled Atlanta into the knockout round.
This year, that final group play game could once again be decisive for Cleveland’s chance to finally punch a ticket to Las Vegas.
**How the Cavs have to play**
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Cleveland has yet to advance to the knockout round of the NBA Cup.
Two years ago, they were denied despite one of the best group play records because of a point-differential tiebreaker.
Every possession, every free throw, every defensive stop matters.
If the Cavs want to avoid scoreboard heartbreak again, they have to approach each Cup Night like a playoff game: sharpen execution, protect leads, and build separation when the opportunity comes.
Run up the score when the math calls for it. Limit garbage-time lapses. And above all, don’t let the outcome of the group come down to “what if” scenarios.
**The road to Vegas**
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Eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds: the top finisher in each of the six groups and two wild cards — one per conference — awarded to the second-place team with the best group play record.
The knockout rounds are single elimination, with the quarterfinals played Dec. 9–10 in NBA arenas. The semifinals (Dec. 13) and championship game (Dec. 16) will be held in Las Vegas. The eight remaining teams will compete for the NBA Cup championship trophy and a prize pool.
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