The chase for the Emirates NBA Cup begins tonight with a 10-game slate to open Group Play — headlined by a star-studded doubleheader on Prime Video.

Jalen Brunson and the defending NBA and Cup champion Knicks visit Tyrese Maxey and the new-look Sixers (7:30 ET), followed by Steph Curry and the Warriors hosting Luka Dončić and the Lakers (10 ET).

As the fourth year of the NBA’s annual in-season competition tips off, one lesson from the first three years stands out: Every game matters.

YEAR 1: LAKERS 🏆
YEAR 2: BUCKS 🏆
YEAR 3: KNICKS 🏆
YEAR 4: ___ 🏆

WHO WILL WIN the 2026 @emirates NBA Cup?

Action tips off TONIGHT at 7pm/et on Prime and NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/43t2GeMALU

— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2026

With the field of 30 teams split into six groups of five, each team will play the other four teams in their group over the next four weeks (Oct. 30–Nov. 27) in Group Play.

Teams have two ways to reach the Knockout Round: Win their group outright or finish as the best second-place team in the conference, decided by Group Play record and point differential.

Over the first three years of the NBA Cup, 10 of the 16 group winners finished 4-0 in Group Play, while the other six all finished 3-1. Meanwhile, all six wild card teams also finished 3-1. A 3-1 finish does not make a team safe, as eight teams have finished Group Play 3-1 … and did not qualify for the Knockouts.

Those are the stakes. A single loss in Group Play could prove too much to overcome in a team’s quest for the NBA Cup and the prize money that comes with it. Hence the heightened level of intensity and pressure around these early regular-season games.

With that backdrop, let’s break down what to watch for during each of tonight’s games.

Hornets vs. Wizards (East Group C | 7 ET | League Pass): AJ Dybantsa’s NBA debut was delayed a week due to an ankle injury, but the No. 1 overall pick did not disappoint in his first action on Wednesday, dropping 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting in 27 minutes. However, that effort came in a 121-111 loss to the Cavs. Tonight, Dybantsa will look to secure his first-ever NBA (and NBA Cup) victory when the Wizards host the Hornets.

Bulls vs. Celtics (East Group C | 7:30 ET | League Pass): On Tuesday, Jayson Tatum hit his seventh career game-winner in the final three seconds — the most in the league since the 2018-19 season. He and the Celtics return play tonight as they host a Bulls team featuring No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson, who is one of three rookies averaging over 20 points, while leading the 2026 class in both steals and blocks.

Pistons vs. Nets (East Group A | 7:30 ET | League Pass): After posting a conference-best 60 wins last season, Detroit is tied with Philadelphia for the East’s best record at 4-1. The Nets are still seeking their first win after being on the wrong side of Tatum’s buzzer-beater. This matchup features two of the top 3-point shooters of the early season: Detroit’s Duncan Robinson (4 per game on 43.5% shooting) and Brooklyn’s Michael Porter Jr. (3.8 per game on 40.5% shooting).

Knicks vs. Sixers (East Group B | 7:30 ET | Prime Video): Last Tuesday, the new-look Sixers spoiled banner night at Madison Square Garden by knocking off the Knicks to open the season, partially avenging their 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals sweep to New York. Tonight, the Knicks begin their NBA Cup title defense with another matchup with the Sixers. Can the Sixers win at home and spoil that as well? Or will the Knicks avenge their season-opening loss with their third straight win?

Magic vs. Raptors (East Group A | 7:30 ET | League Pass): The Magic and Raptors both made it to the Knockouts last year — with each going unbeaten in Group Play to punch their ticket. As they look to repeat that success, they’ll need to navigate injuries to key players to open Group Play. The Magic will be without Paolo Banchero (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (knee), while Toronto will not have key offseason addition Kawhi Leonard (knee).

Pacers vs. Heat (East Group B | 8 ET | League Pass): After being traded to Miami in one of the biggest moves of the offseason, Giannis Antetokounmpo earned his first win with the Heat, posting 24 points and 18 boards in a victory over Atlanta on Wednesday. Through five games, Giannis is averaging 27.6 points on 56.7% shooting, with 11.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists. The winner of the 2024 NBA Cup MVP after leading the Bucks to the championship will make his Cup debut for the Heat.

Rockets vs. Mavericks (West Group A | 8 ET | League Pass): It’s an all-Texas showdown to open Group Play for the undefeated Rockets (5-0) and rising Mavericks (3-2, won two straight). Reigning Kia Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg joins Tatum and Dončić as the only players averaging at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists so far this season. Houston’s young stars Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson have also started strong. But don’t forget the point guard matchup in this one as Dallas’ Kyrie Irving and Houston’s Fred VanVleet are both back after missing all of last season.

Clippers vs. Timberwolves (West Group B | 8 ET | League Pass): With Anthony Edwards out up to two months following knee surgery, all eyes will fall on offseason addition LaMelo Ball to carry more of the load for Minnesota during his absence. While Ball has averaged just 13.4 points over his first five games with the Wolves (with four coming alongside leading-scorer Edwards), he has averaged at least 20 points in each of the past five seasons. The scoring ability is there… as is the necessity.

Lakers vs. Warriors (West Group C | 10 ET | Prime Video): The nightcap of the Prime Video doubleheader features two of the league’s top-four scorers in Dončić (36 ppg) and Golden State’s Stephen Curry (28.8 ppg). Each player enters the Group Play opener coming off a 40+ point game: Curry had a season-high 44 points with six 3-pointers on Wednesday, while Dončić had 41 in a loss to Portland on Tuesday after he logged the NBA’s first 50-point game of 2026-27.

Nuggets vs. Suns (West Group A | 10 ET | League Pass): On Wednesday, Nikola Jokić joined former teammate Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to reach 200 career triple-doubles. Jokić now needs only 10 more to pass the recently retired Westbrook (209) as the all-time leader in a statistic that measures all-around impact. Can he take the first step in that final climb tonight against a Phoenix team that Denver has beaten five straight times?