In November, the NBA is introducing a new in-season tournament. Six five-team groups — three groups in each conference — will play a round-robin format. Each group’s winner, along with one wild-card from each conference, advances to an eight-team knockout round.
The 2023-24 tournament tips off on Friday, Nov. 3 and culminates with the title game on Saturday, Dec. 9. Select tournament games will take place each Tuesday and Friday night in November. Based on results from the first month of games, the semifinals (Dec. 7) and championship will take place at a neutral Las Vegas site.
Excluding the championship, all tournament games will count toward each team’s 82-game record for the 2023-24 season. In short, the NBA is multi-purposing some of its existing results, as opposed to adding games or lengthening an already long regular season.
The Rockets are clear underdogs in their group, which also consists of the Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers and defending champion Denver Nuggets. Each of those four Western Conference teams were far better last season than the 22-60 Rockets.
Then again, perhaps a younger team like the Rockets will be more incentivized to prioritize tournament games than established teams with larger goals for the 2024 playoffs. It’s also worth noting Houston added marquee veterans in 2023 free agency such as Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Jeff Green, which should make the 2023-24 Rockets more threatening than the 2022-23 version.
Further details on the rules and format are available at NBA.com. Here’s a look at the Rockets’ in-season tournament schedule.
Friday, Nov. 10
- Game: New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets
- Tipoff time: 7 p.m. Central
Friday, Nov. 17
- Game: Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers
- Tipoff time: 9:30 p.m. Central
Friday, Nov. 24
- Game: Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets
- Tipoff time: 7 p.m. Central
Tuesday, Nov. 28
- Game: Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks
- Tipoff time: 7:30 p.m. Central
Complete in-season tournament schedule
Yet another reason to get 𝙝𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙙 for hoops 😮💨
The In-Season Tournament schedule is here! pic.twitter.com/cc0oNnlbw8
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) August 15, 2023
The NBA's Eastern Conference in-season tournament schedule: pic.twitter.com/QwXwWFG7ww
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) August 15, 2023
Scheduling notes
NBA In-Season Tournament Notes:
– 22 teams that don't advance to the Quarterfinals will play 2 reg. season games (1 home/1 away) on Dec. 6 & Dec. 8
– 2 of the 22 games will be cross-conference
– Losing teams in the Quarterfinals in each conference will play each other Dec. 8 pic.twitter.com/oZNimphgAl
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) August 15, 2023
NBA will announce full schedule this Thursday.
— Law Murray 🤫 (@LawMurrayTheNU) August 15, 2023
