The Group Play schedule for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament was released on Tuesday, laying out the seven days of games in November that will take the field from 30 teams down to eight for the Knockout Rounds.
As a reminder, each team will play four designated Group Play games – one against each opponent in its group, with two games at home and two on the road.
Group Play games will be played on “Tournament Nights,” which will take place every Tuesday and Friday from Nov. 3-28 (with the exception of Election Day on Nov. 7). The only NBA games played on Tournament Nights will be Group Play games, with at least two games broadcasting nationally on ESPN, TNT or NBA TV.
See below for one can’t-miss game on national TV from each Tournament Night.
- Full In-Season Tournament schedule
- Frequently asked questions
- How the In-Season Tournament works
- In-Season Tournament: Previewing each group
Friday, Nov. 3
Mavericks vs. Nuggets: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN (West B)
A matchup takes plays between the reigning champs and a Mavericks team on the cusp of playoff contention.
There’s no better way to get things started than with the defending champion Denver Nuggets taking on the Dallas Mavericks on opening night of the In-Season Tournament. This gives the Nuggets a chance to make an early statement that they are ready to compete for more championship gold this season, as they will be the hunted rather than the hunters in 2023-24.
On the other side, we get to see what the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving backcourt looks like after a full training camp together. This game is also a marquee matchup of two of the biggest international stars in the NBA with two-time Kia MVP and reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic against a four-time All-NBA First Team selection in Doncic.
Friday, Nov. 10
Lakers vs. Suns: 10 ET, ESPN (West A)
Kevin Durant and LeBron James will face off in a West A matchup.
It has been nearly five years since we’ve seen LeBron James and Kevin Durant face one another in an NBA game. They last squared off on Christmas Day 2018 when LeBron and the Lakers defeated Durant and the Warriors. Durant has played for two different teams since but has yet to play against LeBron with either the Nets or Suns.
When we look at their head-to-head history, LeBron has a decisive edge in regular season matchups (15-6), but Durant holds the advantage in the playoffs (9-5). Of course, those are not the only superstars that will be on the court in this matchup as we get an early look at the Suns’ big three of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, while LeBron is joined by All-Star Anthony Davis on the Lakers’ frontline.
Tuesday, Nov. 14
Spurs vs. Thunder: 7:30 ET, TNT (West C)
A pair of Kia Rookie of the Year contenders will duel in West Group C.
A matchup of the two preseason favorites for Kia Rookie of the Year: 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama of San Antonio and 2022 No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren of Oklahoma City. After missing all of last season due to a foot injury, Holmgren is healthy and back on the court for the Thunder. He provided a taste of what he can do during Summer League play.
Wembanyama enters the NBA with the most hype of any player since LeBron James two decades ago. After showing out against G League Ignite in an exhibition game last season, Wembanyama led his French team, Metropolitans 92, to the playoffs before heading to the U.S. for the Draft. Holmgren and Wembanyama are long, athletic players with a multifaceted offensive skillset and the ability to protect the basket on defense.
Friday, Nov. 17
Suns vs. Jazz: 10 ET, ESPN (West A)
Will Utah come out to another hot start against a scorching Suns squad?
Can the Jazz repeat what they did last season and get off to another hot start to make some noise in the In-Season Tournament? Think back to last November, when after trading away two All-Stars in the offseason, the Utah Jazz were a top-three team in the Western Conference as they jumped out to a 10-3 record that had everyone doing a double take at the standings.
The Western Conference only got stronger in the offseason, including this new-look Suns team that now features the big three of Durant, Booker and Beal, and will give the Jazz a great early test to see how they stack up with the most talented teams in the conference this season.
Tuesday, Nov. 21
Cavaliers vs. 76ers: 7:30 ET, TNT (East A)
Two of the playoff teams in East Group A face off in late November.
This matchup features the top two teams in East Group A from last season – the No. 3 seed Sixers and the No. 4 seed Cavaliers. This matchup of playoff teams also features the reigning Kia MVP and two-time scoring champion Joel Embiid taking on the team that finished last season with the top-ranked defense.
In three games against the Cavaliers, with their defensive frontline of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, Embiid averaged 28 points with 50% effective field goal percentage – those marks are five points lower than his usual scoring average (33.1) and seven points below his normal shooting percentage (57.3%).
Friday, Nov. 24
Heat vs. Knicks: 7:30 ET, ESPN (East B)
Two of the league’s most fiery guards go head-to-head in East Group B.
The Heat beat two East Group B teams on their way to the NBA Finals last season – they pulled off the No. 8 vs. No. 1 upset over the Bucks behind a scorching hot Jimmy Butler (37.6 points on 60% shooting) in the first round, then followed that up with a 4-2 win over the Knicks in the conference semifinals.
It was just the latest chapter in a storied rivalry between New York and Miami that dates back to Pat Riley’s departure from New York to run the show in Miami. This game will also feature an early look at Jalen Brunson in his second season in New York after leading Team USA in the FIBA World Cup.
Tuesday, Nov. 28
Warriors vs. Kings: 10 ET, TNT (West C)
It’s a playoff rematch as California counterparts duel in West Group C.
This is a rematch of last season’s entertaining first-round playoff matchup between the Northern California rivals. One of only three series in the 2023 Playoffs to go the full seven games — and the only one from the first round) — these two teams delivered the drama and competition that the playoffs are all about.
This is the Warriors’ first trip to Sacramento since Stephen Curry dropped 50 points on the Kings in a win-or-go-home Game 7 on the road as he extinguished the beam and ended the Kings’ season.
