Week 8 of the 2025-26 NBA calendar is the NBA Cup week. Now, isn’t that exciting? The four quarterfinals will be on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the two semifinals on Saturday. The NBA Cup final will be played next week. The semifinals are not yet scheduled, as how could they be with the participants not known yet. Rest assured, the four quarterfinal winners will have an extra game this gameweek.
However, the four quarterfinal losers will have games scheduled against each other for Dec. 11, 12, 14 or 15. A keen eye will notice that December 15 isn’t this week, it’s next week. So, the schedule numbers listed below aren’t guaranteed – a few teams may have one fewer game. Then again, the two extra games may just be scheduled for the current week. Smart fantasy commissioners could have prepared for the situation by enabling the “Merge Cup Knockouts Week” option on Fantrax.
More great Fantasy Basketball Rankings and Analysis: Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire | Weekly Schedule Preview | NBA Rookie Report
Fantasy Basketball Schedule Overview
- Monday (12/8): 3 games
- Tuesday (12/9): 2 games
- Wednesday (12/10): 2 games
- Thursday (12/11): 4 games (+2?)
- Friday (12/12): 7 games (+2?)
- Saturday (12/13): 2 games
- Sunday (12/14): 7 games (+2?)
Teams with 3 games:
IND, MIN, NOP, PHX*, SAC
Teams with 2 games:
ATL, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, GSW, LAL*, MIA*, MIL, NYK*, OKC*, ORL*, PHI, POR, SAS*, TOR*, WAS
Teams with 1 game:
BOS, DAL, DEN, DET, HOU, LAC, MEM, UTA
*NBA Cup teams – could have 1 fewer game.
Teams with 0 back-to-backs:
ATL, BKN, BOS, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NOP, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHX, POR, SAC, SAS, TOR, UTA, WAS
Most Favorable Schedules
New Orleans Pelicans – SAS POR @CHI
Saddiq Bey has been the second-best Pelican in fantasy over the past two weeks. This is exactly the two weeks Herbert Jones missed with an injury, and he could return any day now. Before the injury, Jones wasn’t exactly lighting the fantasy world on fire. So, after the return, will Bey keep his role or will Jones come back better than before with a healthy body and mind? You decide.
Another thing to keep in mind is that trade season is almost here, and Jones, Trey Murphy III, and Zion Williamson could be on their way out, which would open up a lot of playing time for other players.
Indiana Pacers – SAC @PHI WAS
The best fantasy player on the Pacers over the past 14 days has been Jay Huff, of course. And, he’s still only rostered in 76% of the leagues on Fantrax. 3.3 blocks per game? Yes, please. Also, fan-favourite T.J. McConnell is rounding into form and is averaging 5.1 assists and 1.7 steals over the same span.
Minnesota Timberwolves – PHX @GSW SAC
As far as fantasy is concerned, the Timberwolves are a pretty boring team with a locked-in big six and then everyone else. Perhaps, there is a chance things shake up if they decide to trade for a point guard, though there may be a case made that they don’t need one with everyone chipping in as far as playmaking duties are concerned. Julius Randle averages 6 assists per game, which he hasn’t done since the year he finished 8th in the MVP voting in 2020-21.
Sacramento Kings – @IND DEN @MIN
A guy called Maxime Raynaud has made the jump to fill in for the injured Domantas Sabonis. In the last four games, he’s averaged 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 59.1% from the field. He’s still available in over half the leagues in Fantrax and should be worth the roster spot until Sabonis returns in, possibly, a month.
Usage Watch
The biggest increase in Usage% over the past week in the league was by Dillon Brooks of, now, the Phoenix Suns. While he scored a lot of points in the past week, it’s unlikely to continue, as this run coincided with Devin Booker’s injury, and he may return for their next game. Zach Edey had the second-highest usage increase and, while he’s unlikely to be a first option any time soon, the Grizzlies clearly look to involve him on both sides of the ball, so the above-average usage rate may continue. Derrick White, Kristaps Porziņģis, Pascal Siakam, Trey Murphy III, Cedric Coward, Jordan Goodwin, Devin Vassell, and Bobby Portis make up the rest of the top 10.
The biggest decrease in usage over the past week was by Ajay Mitchell, who clearly has to take a step back with Jalen Williams back in the fold. I wouldn’t drop him just yet, but the Ajay Mitchell party is likely over. Next is Cade Cunningham, whose usage dropped from 30% to 24%, which was probably caused by random fluctuations in the space-time continuum. The rest of the players in the top 10 were Jaren Jackson Jr., De’Andre Hunter, Max Christie, Bilal Coulibaly, Terance Mann, Will Richard, Royce O’Neale, and Tristan da Silva.
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