Sixers-Knicks NBA Cup primer: What's at stake in Friday's rematch

The Sixers’ second meeting with the Knicks in 10 days will count in two places. Friday night’s game at Xfinity Mobile Arena is part of the regular-season schedule, but it will also open Group Play in the fourth annual NBA Cup. The Knicks enter as defending champions twice over. They won last season’s NBA Cup before completing their run to the NBA championship. The Sixers, meanwhile, will attempt to advance beyond the Cup’s opening stage for the first time. Here is how the tournament works, what Philadelphia faces in East Group B and what has changed since the Sixers spoiled the Knicks’ banner night. How does the NBA Cup work? All 30 teams participate and are divided into six five-team groups — three from each conference. The groups were determined through a drawing based on last season’s standings. Each team plays four Group Play games, facing every other member of its group once. Two are played at home and two are played on the road. The Sixers share East Group B