How does the NBA in-season tournament work?

• The NBA Cup is a brand new competition created for the 2023-24 NBA season
• This multi-stage tournament takes place during the regular season
• This is the first-ever edition of the tournament

The NBA Cup is a brand new competition created for the 2023-24 NBA season. This multi-stage tournament takes place during the regular season, and results will also affect each team’s regular season record. In addition, the winning team will lift the trophy, and each winning player will receive $500,000.

As this is the first-ever edition of the tournament, some fans are still a little unsure of how it works. However, it’s quite similar to tournaments held in WNBA and European soccer, and once you know the rules, it’s a lot of fun to watch. If you live in a state with legal online betting, you can bet on all the action of the NBA Cup. At sports betting AZ sites, it’s easy to bet on which team you think will win, and you can bet on individual matches, too.  Here’s your guide to how the tournament works.

What is the NBA In-Season Tournament?

The NBA. Photo/IUnsplash

Also known as the NBA Cup, this special tournament takes inspiration from the Commissioner’s Cup in the WNBA. 2023-24 is the first year that the Cup is being held, but it will take place annually from this season onwards. Featuring all 30 teams in the league, it’s a chance for every player to have a chance of glory, even if their team isn’t necessarily strong enough to make the Championship.

The tournament tipped off on November 3 and will end on December 9. Just as in the regular NBA season, teams play against each other, and the winning team is the one that scores the most points. The rules work in exactly the same way. It’s just the format of the competition itself that’s different.

The NBA Cup Format

The NBA Cup starts out with a group stage before progressing to the knockout rounds. All 30 teams are randomly drawn into groups before the tournament begins. There are six groups of five teams, and although the draw is random, teams are seeded based on their win-loss record of the previous season. During the group stage, teams play each opponent in their group for a total of four games, with two at home and two on the road.

In total, eight teams will progress from the groups to the knockout round. This includes the six top-ranked teams from each group as well as two wildcard teams. These are the two teams from each conference that finished second in their group and have the best record in the group stage.

An NBA player flopping during a match. Photo/San Francisco Chronicle

The knockout stage is played as single-elimination games. The quarterfinals begin on December 4, and the winning teams will progress to the semifinals on December 7. Finally, the Championship game will be held on December 9. Unlike the NBA Championship, this is played over a single game.

Which Teams Have the Best Chance

While the format of the NBA Cup is very different from that of the regular season, the strongest teams still have the greatest chance of victory. As a result, the odds for the NBA Cup winner are very similar to the Championship futures. Right now, the Celtics are the favorites to win at +850. Other contenders include the Nuggets, Bucks, and Suns.

If you want to bet on the NBA Cup, make sure you do your research first. Carefully consider current team news and form. Injuries to key players have a major impact on how well an NBA team can perform, and it’s easy to stay up to date, thanks to social media. Research your bets carefully and always get the best possible odds if you want to improve your chance of winning.