Lakers’ 2026 Emirates NBA Cup Group Play Schedule

The Emirates NBA Cup has been a great success for the league since its inception in 2024. Of course, the Los Angeles Lakers took home the Cup Championship, with the Milwaukee Bucks winning in 2025 and the New York Knicks bringing it home last season.

This year, the format is primarily the same with each team playing four group stage games on designated “Cup Nights” every Friday from Oct. 30, through Nov. 27, though there will be two specialty Cup Nights on Nov. 23 and 24.

Eight teams will advance to the knockout stage, the six group winners along with one wildcard team from each conference. The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place in home markets while the Cup Final will be at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday, Dec. 11.

The Lakers find themselves in West Group C along with the San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.

The Lakers kick off this year’s Emirates NBA Cup on the road when they face the Warriors on Oct. 30. Their second contest will be at home on Nov. 6 against the Trail Blazers. The Lakers will then host the Kings on Nov. 20 before finishing up group play on Nov. 27 in San Antonio against the Spurs.

Last season, the Lakers went undefeated in group play, winning West Group B with victories over the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans. They did not advance past the quarterfinals, however, as they were taken out by the Spurs, who wound up advancing to Cup Final against the Knicks.

This year’s group won’t be easy to come out on top of as the Spurs are the defending Western Conference Champions and the Trail Blazers are a very promising team, making the playoffs last season and now getting Damian Lillard back from injury, as well as trading for former All-Star Ja Morant. And the Warriors are always dangerous any time Stephen Curry is on the court.

This is a new look Lakers team that will have to build up their chemistry, but with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves leading the way, and new additions like Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton in the fold, it should be an exciting team to watch.

Lakers’ 2026 Emirates NBA Cup group play schedule

Friday, October 30: @ Warriors, Chase Center, San Francisco, 7 p.m. PT, Prime Video
Friday, November 6: vs. Trail Blazers, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, 7 p.m. PT, Prime Video
Friday, November 20: vs. Kings, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, 7 p.m. PT, Spectrum SportsNet
Friday, November 27: @ Spurs, Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, 6:30 p.m. PT, Prime Video