SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA has revealed the Emirates Cup groupings ahead of Thursday’s full schedule release, with the Utah Jazz landing a difficult draw in the Western Conference.
The Jazz will compete in Group A against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the back-to-back conference finalist Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings.
Related: Jazz Mailbag – Will Team Be Improved Anywhere This Season?
Jazz Learn NBA Cup Schedule And Grouping
The Jazz will open Group Cup play on October 31 on the road against the Suns, before playing their only other Cup road game in Minnesota on November 7.
The team will then host the Thunder on November 21, and conclude group play on November 28 against the Sacramento Kings.
The @utahjazz’s NBA Cup grouping and schedule.
Jazz draw a difficult grouping with both OKC and Minnesota, but balance it out with Phoenix and Sacramento. pic.twitter.com/Xu5eDZW6yW
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) August 13, 2025
The Jazz were paired with both the Thunder and the Suns during the 2024 NBA Cup.
All five teams will face one another in a round robin tournament, with the top team advancing out of group play.
What Is The NBA Emirates Cup?
The In-Season Tournament features all 30 NBA franchises competing to earn a spot in the eight-team single-elimination tournament.
Pool play consists of six five-team groups, separated by conference, but not by the league’s existing divisions.
Over the first six weeks of the season, teams will face the other four members in their grouping once each in Cup games. Then, the winner of each group, plus two wildcard teams, will advance to the eight-team single-elimination tournament.
shhhh, Notey’s live with the NBA Cup schedule 🤫🎙️
ʟɪꜱᴛᴇɴ ɪɴ 🎧#TakeNote | @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/i0vV6PQ3nH
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) August 13, 2025
The final four teams will compete in the tournament at a neutral site in Las Vegas, beginning in December, with players on the winning team each earning over half a million dollars.
The four Cup games count towards a team’s regular-season record.
Teams that advance to the finals of the NBA In-Season Tournament will wind up playing 83 regular-season games, while those teams already eliminated will continue to compete in traditional regular-season contests.
The Los Angeles Lakers won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2024.
Group A Emirates Cup Schedule
Oklahoma City Thunder
Date Opponent Location Local Time ET Nat TV
Fri. 11/7 at Sacramento Away 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Fri. 11/21 at Utah Away 8:00 PM 10:00 PM
Wed. 11/26 vs Minnesota Home 6:30 PM 7:30 PM ESPN
Fri. 11/28 vs Phoenix Home 8:30 PM 9:30 PM
Minnesota Timberwolves
Date Opponent Location Local Time ET Nat TV
Fri. 11/7 vs Utah Home 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Fri. 11/14 vs Sacramento Home 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Fri. 11/21 at Phoenix Away 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
Wed. 11/26 at Oklahoma City Away 6:30 PM 7:30 PM ESPN
Sacramento Kings
Date Opponent Location Local Time ET Nat TV
Fri. 11/7 vs Oklahoma City Home 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Fri. 11/14 at Minnesota Away 7:00 PM 8:00 PM
Wed. 11/26 vs Phoenix Home 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Fri. 11/28 at Utah Away 7:30 PM 9:30 PM
Phoenix Suns
Date Opponent Location Local Time ET Nat TV
Fri. 10/31 vs Utah Home 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Fri. 11/21 vs Minnesota Home 7:00 PM 9:00 PM
Wed. 11/26 at Sacramento Away 7:00 PM 10:00 PM
Fri. 11/28 at Oklahoma City Away 8:30 PM 9:30 PM
Utah Jazz