The NBA has announced a new addition for the 2023-24 season: the In-Season Tournament. Which will take place between November and December, the event will see all 30 teams competing in a combination of Group Play and Knockout games formats, adding an extra layer of excitement to the regular NBA season.
The tournament will have a total of 67 games, with the twist that all matches, except for the final, will count towards regular season games, including the quarterfinals and semifinals. This innovative approach will provide teams with another chance to win awards and potentially disturb the regular season standings.
NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT EXPLAINED 🎥
Starting Nov. 3, all 30 teams will compete for the NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing into the knockout rounds! The tournament semis and championship game will be held in Las Vegas, Dec. 7 and 9! pic.twitter.com/NZdURUa3XR
— NBA (@NBA) July 8, 2023
The Group Play stage involves 60 games divided equally between the Eastern and Western Conferences. Each conference will feature three groups labeled A, B, and C, with five teams in each. These groups were decided using a World Cup-styled draw system and divided on the basis of their 2022-23 regular season standings.
What is the format of the In-Season tournament?
Within the Group stage, each team will play the other four once, twice on the road and twice at home The top team from each group advances to the knockout rounds. Additionally, each conference will have a wild card entry (the best-performing team apart from the three group winners). This means the knockout stage will feature eight teams: three group winners and one wild card from each conference.
Western Conference Groups:
Group A | Group B | Group C |
Memphis Grizzlies | Denver Nuggets | Sacramento Kings |
Phoenix Suns | LA Clippers | Golden State Warriors |
LA Lakers | New Orleans Pelicans | Minnesota Timberwolves |
Utah Jazz | Dallas Mavericks | Oklahoma City Thunder |
Portland Trail Blazers | Houston Rockets | San Antonio Spurs |
Eastern Conference Groups:
Group A | Group B | Group C |
Philadelphia 76ers | Milwaukee Bucks | Boston Celtics |
Cleveland Cavaliers | New York Knicks | Brooklyn Nets |
Atlanta Hawks | Miami Heat | Toronto Raptors |
Indiana Pacers | Washington Wizards | Chicago Bulls |
Detroit Pistons | Charlotte Hornets | Orlando Magic |
But home advantage during the quarterfinals will be reserved for the teams that had the best group stage record. In each conference, the top team among the group winners will play against the wild card, whereas the remaining two group champions play each other. Winners from these matches move on to the semifinals, leading to an inter-conference finale.
NBA DEBUTS IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT COURTS FOR ALL 30 TEAMS pic.twitter.com/OHmOA8LYGL
— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2023
The group stage starts on November 3, with games scheduled for every Tuesday and Friday. The quarterfinals are set for December 4-5, followed by the semifinals on December 7. The final of the In-Season Tournament will be played in Las Vegas, between the top teams from each conference for the title on December 9.