The New York Knicks will begin their NBA Cup defense on October 30th against the Philadelphia 76ers, as the league unveiled the full group stage schedule for the tournament on Wednesday. This matchup will be the Knicks' first taste of group play in the competition they won last season.
The Knicks' NBA Cup defense will commence on the road against the 76ers in Philadelphia. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on Amazon Prime. This encounter also marks a notable early-season test, as the Knicks are also set to face LeBron James and the 76ers on Opening Night, October 20th, at Madison Square Garden.
The NBA Cup Final will be held at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on December 11th. This marks the first time the championship game will be played outside of Las Vegas, which has hosted the tournament's final for the past three years. The semifinals are slated to be played in the respective team markets.
Wednesday's schedule release confirmed several other key matchups for the Knicks' group stage play:
- November 13: Away against the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
- November 25: Home against the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden, on the eve of Thanksgiving.
- November 27: Home against the Heat at Madison Square Garden, on Black Friday.
The games against the 76ers, Pacers, and Heat will all be nationally televised on Amazon Prime.
These NBA Cup games add to a previously announced slate of early-season contests for the Knicks, including their October 20th home opener against the 76ers, an October 23rd road game against the Celtics, and a Christmas Day matchup at home against the Spurs. The full league schedule is expected to be released on Thursday.