NBA Reveals 2026-27 In-Season Tournament Groups and Final Venue

The NBA has unveiled the group stage lineups for its 2026-27 in-season tournament, set to begin in about six months. A key highlight for Israeli fans is the matchup between Portland Trail Blazers, featuring Deni Avdija, and the San Antonio Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, recreating their recent playoff clash. The Western Conference groups are divided into three pools: Group A includes Denver, Houston, Phoenix, Dallas, and Utah; Group B features Oklahoma City, Minnesota, Clippers, New Orleans, and Memphis; Group C has San Antonio, Lakers, Portland, Golden State, and Sacramento. The Eastern Conference groups are: Group A with Detroit, Toronto, Orlando, Milwaukee, and Brooklyn; Group B with New York, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Miami, and Indiana; and Group C with Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, and Washington.

Assuming Emmanuel Sharpe remains with Sacramento, he will face Avdija and the Trail Blazers during the tournament. Brooklyn, coached by Ben Sharaf and featuring Deni Wolf, will compete against Toronto, led by Kawhi Leonard. This tournament marks the NBA's fourth season of the in-season cup, with previous winners including the Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and New York Knicks.

The NBA also announced that the tournament final will take place at the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indiana, home to Butler University's basketball team. This venue, with a capacity of 9,100, is smaller than the previous finals site, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which holds 18,000 spectators. The final is scheduled for December 11-12, 2026.