The NBA's innovative NBA Cup has returned for its second year, building on last year's successful debut. The 2024 tournament, which tipped off on November 12, has already produced several standout performances and notable developments. If you are new to NBA betting or sports handicapping, here is our NBA Cup Preview to help you win big in basketball betting.
If you want to earn more, you can become a bookie. A lot of sports are popular, like basketball, football, and eSports, which is why eSports matters for bookies. But for today, let’s focus on learning all about the NBA’s recent addition to the regular season.
Tournament Structure and Format
The tournament covers all 30 NBA teams, organized into six groups of five teams each, with three groups per conference. The group stage features round-robin play conducted exclusively on Tuesdays and Fridays from November 12 through December 3.
The games are played during the regular season. If it gets confusing, there is a very simple way to identify if you are watching a Play-In Tournament. These games are distinguished by specially designed courts that create a unique visual identity for tournament matchups.
Advancement to the knockout stage is determined by group winners (based on round-robin records and point differential for tiebreakers) plus one wild card team from each conference, selected from the best-performing non-group winners. The tournament then transitions to a single-elimination format, culminating in the semifinals and championship game in Las Vegas.
What to Expect in the NBA Cup
The inaugural tournament back in 2023 exceeded expectations, drawing enthusiasm from players and teams alike. The competition was elevated by the substantial incentive of $500,000 per player for members of the winning team. The Los Angeles Lakers were the first winners.
With several group play dates remaining through December 3, the tournament remains wide open. The knockout stage will commence on December 10, leading to the championship game on December 17 in Las Vegas. The unique format continues to provide additional stakes to early-season NBA action. If you want more help in earning more from NBA betting, this pay per head sportsbook software can help you manage all the action you will get.