Chicago Bulls' NBA Cup Schedule Revealed Ahead of Full Release

The 2026-27 NBA schedule is set to be released in full on Thursday, but Bulls fans already have four key dates they can lock into their calendar.

On Wednesday morning, the league revealed its slate for NBA Cup pool play games. Chicago was placed into East Group C by virtue of its 31-51 record last season and random assignment.

The Bulls will open up pool play on the road against the Celtics on Friday, Oct. 30. Boston is coming off a seismic offseason, in which it traded 2024 Finals MVP and five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and draft picks. The Celtics were the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference last season without Jayson Tatum for much of the year (Achilles), but the team's first-round exit in the playoffs has led to widespread doubt about their ability to repeat that regular season success.

Chicago then has a week off from NBA Cup play before hosting the Hawks on Friday, Nov. 13. Atlanta went on a surprising run to the East's No. 6 seed last season despite trading Trae Young, then fell to the eventual champion New York Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs.

The following week, the Washington Wizards come to the Windy City on Nov. 20. Washington is the only team in East Group C that recorded a worse record than Chicago last season, but the Wizards are projected to be much better in 2026-27. In addition to No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, veteran stars Young and Anthony Davis should make D.C. an enjoyable watch.

Chicago wraps up its NBA Cup pool play on Wednesday, Nov. 25, in Charlotte. The Hornets are the lone team in the group that the Bulls faced during the 2025 NBA Cup, having defeated Chicago, 123-116. Charlotte nearly reached the postseason last spring, but recently traded point guard LaMelo Ball away to Minnesota.

Following pool play, the winners of each of the league's six groups will advance to the NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, along with one non-group winner in each conference. The championship match will be played at Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, marking the first time since the NBA Cup's 2023 inception that the final will not be held in Las Vegas.

Chicago went 1-3 in NBA Cup pool play last season, defeating the eventual Cup champion Knicks before falling to the Bucks, Heat and Hornets. The Bulls' best finish was in 2024, when they went 2-2 but did not reach the Knockout Rounds.