Nuggets aim to end NBA Cup drought in four-game group

The NBA Cup returns for its fourth season on Friday, and the Denver Nuggets enter the tournament without a prior appearance in the quarterfinals. In the three seasons since the competition began, 17 different teams have reached that stage, leaving Denver as a perennial playoff contender that has never broken through in this specific format.

The group stage consists of six groups with five teams each. Every team plays four round-robin games against its groupmates. Only eight teams advance to the knockout stage, comprised of the first-place finisher from each group and one wild card from each conference. If teams tie for these spots, head-to-head results and point differential in group play determine the winner. Overtime points do not count toward the point differential.

Denver opens its schedule on October 30 against the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have struggled with lineup chemistry, with key players posting a minus-44 rating in their first 49 minutes together. This presents an opportunity for Denver, which has relied heavily on opponents missing three-point shots behind its help defense. The Nuggets then host the Houston Rockets on November 20. Houston is undefeated with a 5-0 record, and center Alperen Sengun is performing well despite a mild back strain. Guard Fred VanVleet has returned from a torn ACL, averaging 6.5 assists and 1.3 turnovers.

The third game is against the Dallas Mavericks on November 24. The Mavericks are managing the workload of Kyrie Irving, who has been dealing with a left knee injury. If Irving sits, the team will likely rely on second-year forward Cooper Flagg. The group stage concludes on November 27 in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are dealing with multiple injuries, including a torn right MCL for Jaren Jackson Jr., which keeps him out for six to eight weeks. Other injured starters include Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic.

Games in the group stage and the subsequent quarterfinals and semifinals count toward the regular-season record. The only game that does not count is the championship, which is scheduled for December 11. The final will be played at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, marking a change in venue from Las Vegas. The tournament structure requires Denver to finish first in its group or secure the Western Conference wild card to advance.