Less than a year ago, the Los Angeles Lakers lifted the first NBA Cup to the sky in Las Vegas, then called the In-Season Tournament and from this year, the Emirates NBA Cup. The mid-season competition that the NBA had created was a resounding success, both among teams and fans. And we are about to start its second edition.

Beyond the debate that arose about whether, depending on which team it is, the season could be considered saved with this title, the Cup was liked, because of the boost it gave to the regular season games that counted for its qualification and because of the final phase played in Las Vegas, a venue that will be repeated this year.

It should be remembered that the NBA Cup is played in two formats. One is the group stage, with the 30 teams divided into six groups of five teams, and the other is the knockout stage with quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The matches played in the group stage count towards the teams’ final balance in the regular season.

And those games that count start tonight with the eight games that have to be played on the day. And with attractions such as the season debut of Joel Embiid’s Philadelphia against the New York Knicks, or the tribute that the Warriors are going to pay to Klay Thompson on his return to San Francisco with the Mavs for the first time since his departure.

Then, the Cup will be played consecutively on November 15, 19, 22, 26 and 29 and December 3, the last day of the qualifying matches. From there we will have the quarterfinals on December 10 and 11, the semifinals on December 14 and the final on December 17. These matches will no longer count towards the teams’ standings, but are knockout matches. The winner advances. The quarterfinals will be played at the home of the teams with the best record, while the semifinals and final will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

NBA Cup groups

Eastern Conference Group A: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets.

Eastern Conference Group B: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons.

Eastern Conference Group C: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards.

Western Group A: Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.

West Group B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs.

Western Conference Group C: Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies.