Emirates NBA Cup 2026 tips off as Knicks defend title

The 2026 Emirates NBA Cup tipped off overnight, the midseason tournament now one of the most anticipated stops of the regular season.

Opening night featured Philadelphia 76ers against defending champions New York Knicks, followed by Golden State Warriors versus Los Angeles Lakers, launching a path that sends eight teams to knockouts.

Thirty franchises are split into six groups of five, three per conference. Each team faces the other four once. Six group winners plus the two best runners-up, one per conference, advance.

From there, the tournament becomes single elimination. Quarterfinals and semifinals will be hosted by the higher-seeded team, while the final is set for December 11 at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

In this short format, point differential remains crucial, with every basket potentially decisive for qualification.