Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

NBA Cup: League Announces Changes in Venues for Semifinals and Finals

The group stage of the 2025-26 NBA Cup will begin on October 31.

Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

The NBA Cup will undergo a major change starting in the 2026-27 season. On Wednesday, the league’s Board of Governors approved a proposal for the tournament’s semifinals to be played on the home courts of the qualified teams, instead of being held at a neutral location, as in previous years.

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What’s the changes in NBA Cup’s Knockout Matches?

The tournament will now be held in 2023-24, with the semifinals and finals held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. With the change, only the final stage will continue to take place in Nevada, while the semifinal stage will be played at home by the teams with the best record.

The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/Md0uIQXmme
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) September 10, 2025

Additionally, it’s worth noting that the city will continue to host the final this year, with games scheduled for December 13th and 16th. However, the NBA has not yet confirmed whether Las Vegas will remain the host of the Finals after the 2025-26 season, only reinforcing that the decisive duel will always be held on a neutral court.

According to Bleacher Report journalist Adam Wells, financial considerations were a key factor in the change. When the semifinals were played at a neutral venue, the designated home team lost a regular-season home game, resulting in a loss in revenue.

Considering that the final is the only NBA Cup game that does not count towards the regular season schedule, it will continue to be played at a neutral location.

Despite criticism about its relevance, the NBA Cup has attracted a lot of attention in its two years of existence, providing the thrill of a knockout tournament even during the qualifying phase of the season.

In the last edition, the Milwaukee Bucks were crowned champions by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, who months later would win the 2024-25 NBA season title. Interestingly, OKC’s rival in that final, the Indiana Pacers, had also been runner-up in the inaugural tournament, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. The group stage of the 2025-26 NBA Cup will begin on October 31.

Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

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Gulshan Sharma

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.