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As the 2026-27 NBA season inches closer and closer, more details about the schedule are being revealed.
On Wednesday, the schedule for 2026 Utah Jazz Cup Nights games was revealed. The Jazz will be in West Group A for the second-consecutive season, this time joined by the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and Phoenix Suns.
Utah is certainly familiar with Denver, a fellow member of the Northwest Division. Dallas and Houston will present compelling matchups against fellow Western Conference squads that have key young players driving success. Meanwhile, Phoenix is a holdover from Utah’s 2025 group and another team looking to battle for a playoff spot in the conference.
During the 2025 Cup, the Jazz went 1-3 in Group Play, securing their lone victory over the Sacramento Kings. The New York Knicks went on to win the 2025 NBA Emirates Cup with a 124-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
With the schedule now out for Group Play, let’s take a closer look at each individual matchup.
Nov. 6 at Dallas Mavericks (6 p.m. MT)
Utah will begin Group Play on the road with a matchup against Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks.
Dallas will hope to make a jump in the Western Conference standings following the return of Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks made significant changes in both the front office and coaching staff, with Dusty May leading the group from the sidelines. Dallas’ main offseason additions came in the form of ninth overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. and trades that brought in Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher.
The two teams split the season series during the 2025-26 campaign.
Nov. 13 at Houston Rockets (6:30 p.m. MT)
It’s a Texas two-step to begin Group Play for the Jazz, as the following week they will take on the Rockets in another road matchup.
Houston had a relatively quiet offseason, with Marcus Smart serving as the team’s primary addition through free agency. The Rockets are certainly hoping that the return of Fred VanVleet will help the team’s offense and overall ball-handling, with Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Şengün continuing to lead the charge.
Houston won the season series 3-1 over Utah a year ago.
Nov. 20 vs. Phoenix Suns (7:30 p.m. MT)
A holdover from last year’s Group A, the Jazz will have their first home Group Play game against the Suns.
Phoenix opted to retain a majority of their rotation from last season’s playoff squad, with the trade for Miles Bridges being the notable exception. Armed with a similar supporting cast, Devin Booker will look to lead the Suns to back-to-back playoff appearances.
Phoenix won two out of three games between the two teams last season.
Nov. 27 vs. Denver Nuggets (7:30 p.m. MT)
To conclude Group Play, the Jazz will host a division rival in the Nuggets.
As of Wednesday, Denver has experienced a quiet offseason, with the pending restricted free agency of Peyton Watson hanging in the air over a team looking to bounce back from a first-round exit last season.
Matchups against the Nuggets have proven to be a challenge for Utah in recent years, with Denver having won 10 consecutive games in the series.