The Knicks will open another one of their championship defenses against the 76ers.
The two teams will square off in Philadelphia on Oct. 30 on Amazon Prime for the league’s first NBA Cup group stage game.
The Knicks memorably won last year’s NBA Cup, defeating the Spurs in the NBA Cup Final in Las Vegas in December — which served as a preview for the NBA Finals, where they again beat the Spurs.
That means the Knicks will begin their championship defense against LeBron James and the new-look 76ers at Madison Square Garden on the league’s Opening night on Oct. 20, then will begin their Cup defense against the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena 10 days later for the first group stage game.
The full NBA Cup group stage schedule was released on Wednesday.
The Knicks will play the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Nov. 13, will host the Cavaliers at MSG on Nov. 25 for a Thanksgiving-eve clash and host the Heat at MSG on Nov. 27 for a Black Friday showdown.
The 76ers, Pacers and Heat matchups will be nationally televised on Amazon Prime.
The NBA Cup Final will be played at Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Dec. 11 – marking the first time it will be held outside of Las Vegas, which hosted the first three finals for the in-season tournament. The NBA announced that the semifinals will be played in team markets. Last year both the semis and the NBA Cup Final were in Las Vegas.
Wednesday’s release means there are now seven known games on the Knicks schedule, after a few marquee slots were announced on Tuesday:
– Vs. 76ers on Oct. 20 (Opening Night)
– At Celtics on Oct. 23
– At 76ers on Oct. 30 (NBA Cup tip-off)
– At Pacers on Nov. 13 (NBA Cup group stage)
– Vs. Cavaliers on Nov. 25 (NBA Cup group stage/Thanksgiving eve)
– Vs. Heat on Nov. 27 (NBA Cup group stage/Black Friday)
– Vs. Spurs on Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)
The full schedules will be released on Thursday.
