The NBA has started releasing its schedule in batches, and one batch released the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup schedule. Good news. It's a favorable one for the Denver Nuggets this year. Obviously, it's nowhere close to the prestige of an NBA Championship, but the in-season tournament offers a trophy, bragging rights, a large cash bonus to the players, and if it's anything like last year, it can be a preview of the playoffs, too.
The 2025-26 NBA Cup Championship game featured the two eventual NBA Finals teams, and it ended the same way. The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 124-113. The Nuggets were knocked out of the tournament in the group stage last year, losing 139-136 to the Spurs in the game they had to have to advance to the knockout rounds.
The Nuggets' NBA Cup schedule is favorable to advance
The Nuggets are in West Group A, and they've drawn the Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz. Sure, it features two playoff teams from a year ago, but the Nuggets should be able to handle both of them, as well as both of the young and talented Jazz and Mavericks.
The games are scheduled as follows:
- Game 1: Friday, 10/30, at Phoenix, 7 P.M. MT
- Game 2: Friday, 11/20, vs Houston, 8 P.M MT - NBA on Prime
- Game 3: Tuesday, 11/24 vs Dallas, 8 P.M. MT - NBA on NBC
- Game 4: Friday, 11/27 at Utah, 7:30 P.M. MT
If the Nuggets do finally advance this year, the playoffs will start on Dec. 4th and 5th, with the NBA Cup Championship game scheduled for Dec. 11th.
The Nuggets haven't fared well in the NBA Cup
I say "if the Nuggets do finally advance" this year because they are 0-3 in their previous three tries. Each season, they've gone 2-2 and failed to make the knockout round. However, that did earn them a little bit of extra rest. But it would be cool to see the Nuggets make it out of the group stage and into a knockout round game.
And it would be even cooler to see Nikola Jokic add a couple of extra pieces of hardware to his collection. LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jalen Brunson have each won the NBA Cup and the NBA Cup MVP trophy. To me, that list is definitely missing Jokic.
Hopefully, the Nuggets advance this year and win it all. If it's like last year, it's a good precursor for the rest of the way.
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