![Melat Kiros Defeats Longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado Democratic Primary]](https://i3.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AP26182168919211-1782881209.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440&w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "Melat Kiros Defeats Longtime Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado Democratic Primary]")
NBA Announces 2026 Emirates Cup Group Stage Assignments, Pistons Lead East Group A]
Detroit — The NBA unveiled the group stage brackets for the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on Tuesday, with the Detroit Pistons claiming the top seed in East Group A following their franchise-best 60-win campaign last season.
The Pistons will host a robust field in their group, which includes the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, and the Toronto Raptors, who acquired Kawhi Leonard via trade from the Los Angeles Clippers on the same day.
May 17, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; General view before game seven of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
The tournament enters its fourth iteration this season, with single-elimination quarterfinals and semifinals set to begin Oct. 30. Detroit opens group play against the Nets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
From there, the eight conference champions advance to knockout rounds, with the final two teams competing in the championship game Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis.
Despite securing the East’s best record last campaign, the Pistons struggled in cup competition, posting a 2-2 group-stage mark in 2025 and missing the knockout rounds for the third straight year. The Magic claimed that group with a perfect 4-0 record.
Last season’s champion New York Knicks made history by becoming the first franchise to win both the Emirates Cup and an NBA title in the same year, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the 2025 final on Dec. 16.
