Dallas Mavericks' Emirates NBA Cup schedule announced

What is the Emirates NBA Cup format?

The first stage features four games – two home, two away – and for the Dallas Mavericks this season, the following matchups will occur.

• 11/7/25 – at Memphis Grizzlies
• 11/14/25 – vs LA Clippers
• 11/21/25 – vs New Orleans Pelicans
• 11/28/25 – at LA Lakers

These games, which count towards regular-season standings, will all happen during November.

How the Later Rounds Work

The winner of each group, plus the best second-place team, advance to the "knockout" round, which proceeds the quarterfinals. The final of the tournament is held in Las Vegas, with the winners receiving $500,000 per player as an added bonus to their salary.

Teams in Dallas' Group

The four other teams in West Group B are the LA Lakers, the LA Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans.

• LA Lakers – The intrigue is obvious. Luka Doncic and LeBron James versus Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg will define this matchup, as Kyrie Irving will still be rehabbing his knee at this point.

• LA Clippers – A budding rivalry has developed with the Clippers since the Luka Doncic days, but it remains to be seen whether that same passion will exist between the two franchises as Dallas moves into the Cooper Flagg era.

• Memphis Grizzlies – Memphis (mercifully) ended the Mavericks' miserable 2024-25 season in the Play-In Tournament last summer. After moving Desmond Bane in the offseason, the new-look Grizzlies will look to continue to build around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

• New Orleans Pelicans – The Pelicans have had trouble over the last few years, but added two exciting draft prospects in Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma) and Derik Queen (Maryland). They will be young, but will look to compete in the Western Conference despite their struggles recently.

Overall Reaction

Though Dallas will be in an adjustment period, this is one of the more winnable groups overall. The Lakers and Clippers will be tough, but the Mavericks should be able to handle Memphis and certainly handle New Orleans. If they can win some of these games, it could give them confidence going forward, especially for when Kyrie Irving makes his return in late January or early February.