Phoenix Suns' NBA Cup schedule: Path to Vegas just got much harder

The Phoenix Suns did not have a good time in the inaugural version of the NBA Cup last season, losing to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the process. There was more than a hint of controversy to the loss, not that the Lakers cared.

They managed to save what was a disappointing season for them by having some form of hardware to point to. The wait goes on for the Suns to lift a trophy - any trophy - and the prospect of that changing in December of this year doesn't look much better either with the revealing of who the Suns will face in group play.

Phoenix Suns 2024 NBA Cup schedule: Full list of games

The Suns have been drawn into West Group B, and right away will get a chance to avenge their loss to the Lakers as they will meet again. There is also a meeting with the Utah Jazz for the second season in a row, which is just as well as it represents a chance to pick up what in theory should be a win against a rebuilding organization.

Tuesday, November 12th: at Utah Jazz (7pm MST)

Friday, November 15th: at Oklahoma City Thunder (6pm MST)

Tuesday, November 26th: vs Los Angeles Lakers (8pm MST - live on TNT)

Tuesday, December 3rd: vs San Antonio Spurs (7pm MST)

Is the NBA Cup the same thing as the In-Season Tournament?

Yes, it is. Last year it was called the in-season tournament - but after a successful birth which garnered plenty of attention - sponsors were never going to be far away. This time out it has been rebranded as the Emirates NBA Cup, which has a better ring to it. Emirates aren't new to branding competitions like this either, or sponsoring massive teams in other leagues either.

How can I watch the Suns compete for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup?

It is somewhat surprising that the lone nationally televised game the Suns have is against the Lakers. Any time LeBron James and Kevin Durant go head-to-head it is worth tuning in, plus Devin Booker just had the summer of his life in Paris. But surely a tilt against the Oklahoma City Thunder also warranted national coverage?

The Thunder locked up the one seed last season out West, and have a top 10 player in the league in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Even if the small market Thunder don't excite, then sure the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama should. Although the Spurs only won 22 games, they memorably beat the Suns in back-to-back games to drop the Suns below .500 in early November.

What will happen if the Suns advance past 2024 Emirates NBA Cup group play?

If the Suns top their group - or finish as one of the two next best teams - they will go into a single elimination style tournament. As the Olympic Games have shown us, those contests can be wildly unpredictable and a ton of fun. Watching the Indiana Pacers get to the final of this competition last season was also enjoyable for this reason.

Get past that quarter-final game, and the last four standing will head to Las Vegas for the semi-finals - played between December 10th-11th - and then the final itself on December 17th. Seven games standing between the Suns and lifting a trophy for the first time in their history. Sounds easy right? It is going to be anything but.