Celtics guide to the 2025 NBA Cup: Schedule, Group B standings and more

Celtics Guide to the 2025 NBA Cup

Overview of the Tournament

The 2025 NBA Cup, the league's third in-season tournament since its launch in 2023, starts Friday night with group play games. All 30 NBA teams are divided into six groups of five within their respective conferences. Each team plays four group games — facing every group opponent once, with two games at home and two on the road.

Boston Celtics in Group B

The Boston Celtics, failing to advance beyond the group stage in 2024 despite entering as reigning NBA champions, are competing in Group B alongside:

The Celtics kicked off their 2025 campaign with a narrow 109-108 victory over the 76ers.

Path to the Knockout Stage

Advancement to the knockout rounds requires finishing as the top team in the group or securing a wild card spot as the second-place finisher with the best overall record in the conference. A total of eight teams qualify for the single-elimination knockout stage, including all six group winners and two wild cards.

"The tournament begins with the group stage. All 30 teams will compete in group play, having been placed into six groups of five teams within their conference. Teams face each of their group opponents once for a total of four group play games (two at home and two on the road). Eight teams advance to the single-elimination knockout rounds: the top team in each of the six groups and a wild card team in each conference that's awarded to the second-place finisher with the best overall record."

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Author's summary: The 2025 NBA Cup group stage begins, with the Celtics aiming to improve on last year's early exit as they compete in Group B for a knockout round spot.

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NBC Sports Boston NBC Sports Boston — 2025-11-01

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