Nuggets seek 4th straight NBA Cup exit in Group A
Denver faces a 5-0 Houston Rockets squad and a roster of injuries as the tournament begins Friday.
By Harper Foster ·
The Denver Nuggets enter the fourth season of the NBA Cup with a 0-3 record in the tournament’s quarterfinals. The team has never advanced past the group stage. The competition tips off Friday with a game against the Phoenix Suns.
The format remains unchanged for the 2026 edition. Six groups contain five teams each. Every team plays four round-robin games against its groupmates. The top team from each group advances to the knockout stage. One wildcard spot is available per conference. Head-to-head results, point differential, and points scored serve as the tiebreakers for group standings. Overtime scores do not count toward point differential.
The financial stakes and regular-season implications define the tournament’s structure. Group stage games count toward the regular-season record. The quarterfinals and semifinals also count toward the regular-season record. Only the championship game does not count. The final game is scheduled for December 11 at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This marks a move away from Las Vegas, which hosted previous finals.
The Nuggets’ schedule begins with a road trip to Phoenix on October 30. The Suns have struggled with lineup chemistry. Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges were minus 44 in their first 49 minutes together. The group’s ball movement and outside shooting have been weak. The Nuggets have relied on opponents missing three-pointers behind their defensive rotation.
Denver hosts the Houston Rockets on November 20. The Rockets are undefeated at 5-0. Amen Thompson blocked Victor Wembanyama with two seconds left in a win over San Antonio. Fred VanVleet is averaging 6.5 assists and 1.3 turnovers per game. Kevin Durant is scoring efficiently. Alperen Sengun is dealing with a mild back strain. The Rockets are the favorites to win West Group A.
The Mavericks visit on November 24. Kyrie Irving sat out the team’s home opener for left knee injury management. It is unclear if he will play against Denver. If he sits, Cooper Flagg leads the offense. Flagg has been a steals machine in the first week of the season.
The group stage concludes on November 27 in Salt Lake City. The Utah Jazz are missing three starters due to injuries. Jaren Jackson Jr. tore his right MCL and will sit out for six to eight weeks. Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic are also injured. Jazz coach Will Hardy may employ defensive schemes to target Nikola Jokic. The teams have a recent history of physical play in the post.
The Denver Post predicts the Rockets will advance from West Group A. The Grizzlies, Lakers, Pistons, Knicks, Wizards, and Spurs are the predicted winners in their respective groups. The Spurs are the predicted wildcard from the West. The prediction for the championship is a Spurs victory over the Pistons.
