The NBA Cup schedule has been officially announced! The finals are set to take place on December 17, with the Thunder emerging as the top favorites for the championship.

On August 14, Beijing time, the league officially released the schedule for the 2025 NBA Cup group stage. This mid-season tournament has entered its third year and will run from November 1 to November 29, with "Cup Night" being held every Saturday. Additionally, extra games are scheduled for November 26 and 27.

Prime will debut its NBA game coverage during the opening week on October 25, featuring a doubleheader that day. At 7:30 PM, the Celtics will face off against the Knicks, followed by the Timberwolves taking on the Lakers at 10 PM.

The first "Cup Night" coincides with Halloween, featuring a matchup at 7 PM between the Celtics and the 76ers from the Eastern Group B. Later at 9:30 PM, the Lakers, led by Doncic and James, will face off against the Grizzlies, featuring Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Other significant "Cup Night" games on the Prime platform include: Rockets vs. Spurs and Warriors vs. Nuggets on November 8; Heat vs. Knicks and Warriors vs. Spurs on November 15; Pacers vs. Cavaliers and Nuggets vs. Rockets on November 22; Bucks vs. Knicks and the Mavericks vs. Lakers following that on November 29.

NBC will present a doubleheader on November 26, with the highlight match being the 8 PM game between the Magic and the 76ers, and the 11 PM game featuring the Clippers against the Lakers.

ESPN will broadcast three games on the night before Thanksgiving (November 28): the Pistons vs. Celtics; Timberwolves vs. Thunder, a rematch of the 2025 Western Conference Finals; and Rockets vs. Warriors, revisiting their first-round playoff matchup from 2025.

The group stage will conclude on November 29, with the quarterfinals scheduled for December 10 and 11. The semifinals will take place on December 14 in Las Vegas, and the finals are set for December 17 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The inaugural NBA Cup in 2023 was won by the Lakers, who defeated the Pacers. The 2024 championship was claimed by the Bucks, who triumphed over the Thunder.

The league introduced this tournament to enhance mid-season engagement and to compete with the NFL during the November to December period. According to the latest championship odds, the Thunder are the top favorites to win the 2025 NBA Cup (+350), followed by the Knicks (+600), Cavaliers (+700), and Rockets (+1000). They are followed by the Nuggets, Magic, Timberwolves, Hawks, and Lakers. Who will claim the 2025 NBA Cup championship? Let’s wait and see.