2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Bracket, groups, format, NBA Cup explained

The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament is headed to the finals. Check out the complete details for the tournament including bracket, format and prize.

NBA In-Season Tournament Bracket

NBA Cup Finals

No. 2 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers

West Bracket

Semifinals – No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers def. No. 3 New Orleans Pelicans

Quarterfinals – No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers def. No. 4 Phoenix Suns

Quarterfinals – No. 3 New Orleans Pelicans def. No. 2 Sacramento Kings

East Bracket

Semifinals – No. 2 Indiana Pacers def. No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks

Quarterfinals – No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks def. No. 4 New York Knicks

Quarterfinals – No. 2 Indiana Pacers def. No. 3 Boston Celtics

NBA In-Season Tournament Schedule

Quarterfinals

Monday, Dec. 4

Tuesday, Dec. 5

Semifinals

Thursday, Dec. 7

Finals

Saturday, Dec. 9

NBA In-Season Tournament Groups

WEST GROUP A (Record, Point differential)

1. Los Angeles Lakers(4-0) +74
2. Phoenix Suns(3-1) +34
3. Utah Jazz(2-2) -13
4. Portland Trail Blazers(1-3) -39
5. Memphis Grizzlies(0-4) -56

WEST GROUP B

1. New Orleans Pelicans(3-1) +33
2. Houston Rockets(2-1) +16
3. Denver Nuggets(2-2) -10
4. Dallas Mavericks(1-2) -14
5. LA Clippers(1-3) -25

WEST GROUP C

1. Sacramento Kings(4-0) +30
2. Minnesota Timberwolves(3-1) 0
3. Golden State Warriors(2-2) +4
4. Oklahoma City Thunder(1-3) +24
5. San Antonio Spurs(0-4) -58

EAST GROUP A

1. Indiana Pacers(4-0) +39
2. Cleveland Cavaliers(3-1) +29
3. Philadelphia 76ers(2-2) +9
4. Atlanta Hawks(1-3) -32
5. Detroit Pistons(0-4) -45

EAST GROUP B

1. Milwaukee Bucks(4-0) +46
2. New York Knicks(3-1) +42
3. Miami Heat(2-2) +4
4. Charlotte Hornets(1-3) -54
5. Washington Wizards(0-4) -38

EAST GROUP C

1. Boston Celtics(3-1) +27
2. Orlando Magic(3-1) +22
3. Brooklyn Nets(2-1) +20
4. Toronto Raptors(1-2) -21
5. Chicago Bulls(0-3) -48

Clinched group

Eliminated

Clinched Wild-card

What is the NBA In-Season Tournament?

The NBA In-Season Tournament is a tournament that will take place during the regular season and feature all 30 NBA teams competing for a new championship title. The goal is to provide additional excitement and engagement for fans, especially during the early part of the regular season which has suffered in recent years, as well as create new revenue streams for the league.

[2023 NBA In-Season Tournament Schedule: How to watch, dates]

NBA In-Season Tournament Format

The tournament will be divided into six pools with five teams apiece, and pools will consist of teams within the same conference, but not necessarily the same division. Teams will play four group games, matching up with each team in their pool once, with winners advancing to a single-elimination stage.

Each squad will have 80 games on their initial regular-season schedule, while those who don’t qualify for elimination games in the tournament will have two more games added. The two teams who compete for the championship will play 83 total regular-season games. In addition, statistics for the games will count towards regular season totals, aside from the championship game.

The tournament begins on Nov. 3, with the championship game coming on Dec. 9. The “Final Four” will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada at the top of December.

[Related: NBA releases bold new home courts for inaugural in-season tournament]

NBA In-Season Tournament Tiebreaker Rules

1. Head-to-head record in group stage
2. Point Differential in group stage
3. Total Points in group stage
4. Prior Season’s Regular Season record

NBA In-Season Tournament Prize

Players who are part of the championship team will receive a $500,000 bonus and the team wins the new NBA Cup.

There will also be a Most Valuable Player award for the in-season tournament and an all-tournament team.

[2023 NBA odds: Bucks, Celtics co-favorites for first in-season tourney]