PORTLAND, Ore. — The NBA on Tuesday released the group-play schedule for the 2024 in-season tournament, which has a fancy new name this season: the Emirates NBA Cup.
The Portland Trail Blazers will play four games in group play:
- Nov. 12 - vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7 p.m.
- Nov. 22 - at Houston Rockets, 5 p.m.
- Nov. 29 - vs. Sacramento Kings, 7 p.m.
- Dec. 3 - at Los Angeles Clippers, 7:30 p.m.
None of the Blazers' four games will be nationally televised.
Portland, which won 21 games last season and is projected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA this season, is unlikely to be favored in any of the four games. All four of the Blazers' opponents finished with records .500 or better last season. The Timberwolves won 56 games and finished third in the Western Conference, the Clippers won 51 games (fourth in West), the Kings won 46 games (ninth in West) and the Rockets won 41 games (11th in West).
All 30 teams in the NBA will compete in group play. Eight teams will advance to the single-elimination knockout rounds: the six group-play winners and two wild-card teams, drawn from the teams with the best records in group play that finished second in their group. The semifinals and championship will be held in Las Vegas on Dec. 14 and 17.
The games in group play, the knockout rounds and the quarterfinals will count as regular-season games. The championship game will not count towards the regular-season standings.
KEY DATES
- Nov. 12 - Group play begins
- Dec. 3 - Group play ends
- Dec. 10-11 - Quarterfinals
- Dec. 14 - Semifinals at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
- Dec. 17 - Championship at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers to win the inaugural NBA Cup. The Blazers finished 1-3 in their four games in group play last season.
One of the biggest curiosities from the inaugural in-season tournament were the colorful courts for in-season tournament games. No word at this point about court designs for the 2024 NBA Cup.
The NBA said the complete schedule for the 2024-25 season will be unveiled Thursday, Aug. 15.
