Emirates NBA Cup 101: Rules, format and how it works. The Emirates NBA Cup 2025, the NBA’s third annual in-season competition, will crown a champion on Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.

The groups are set for the Emirates NBA Cup 2025. All 30 NBA teams were randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2024-25 regular season.

The NBA revealed the groups for the Emirates NBA Cup. The Miami Heat are in Group C alongside other Eastern Conference teams to begin the tournament.