The NBA schedule is rolling out this week — the start of the season is just 70 days away — and while the full schedule doesn’t drop until Thursday, some of the marquee days and biggest games have already been announced. Here is what we know.
Opening night
The NBA season tips off on NBC on Oct. 20 with a triple-header:
• Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (3 p.m. ET)
• Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET)
• Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET)
This will be the first time that a network has ever broadcast three NBA Tip-Off games, and all of them are intense matchups and all of them can be seen on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
The day starts with Jayson Tatum vs. Cade Cunningham in a showdown of the top two seeds in the East from last season. It’s also a clash of styles between the 3-point-launching Celtics and the dominant-in-the-paint Pistons.
Then comes ring night in Madison Square Garden, the first time in 53 years a championship banner will be raised to the rafters in New York. Adam Silver will be on hand to give Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of the Knicks their rings — then LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the rest of the new-look 76ers will try to spoil the party. This is the marquee matchup of the night.
Although the finale might match it — Game 8 of last year’s Western Conference Finals, the Thunder vs. the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Two juggernauts meeting on opening night.
Christmas Day
The NBA returns with its traditional five-game Christmas Day lineup, and it’s a banger. All the games will be broadcast on both ABC and ESPN.
• San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks (12 p.m.m. ET). An NBA Finals rematch with Victor Wembanyama making his one appearance this season in Madison Square Garden.
• Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (2:30 p.m. ET). Giannis Antetokounmpo and the new-look Miami Heat spend the holiday in Boston taking on Jayson Tatum and the Celtics.
• Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers (5 p.m. ET). LeBron James makes his return to Los Angeles with Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid and his new teammates along for the ride, taking on Luka Doncic and a reworked Lakers roster. This is the showcase game of the day, with LeBron — who brought a title to Los Angeles — getting welcomed back by the fans.
• Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET). A star-studded event with two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and the Thunder heading north for a white Christmas in Minnesota to take on Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball and the Timberwolves.
• Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET). The Christmas Day nightcap features Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets heading to the Bay Area to face Stephen Curry and the Warriors in another star-studded game. This is also two former champions in the West looking to show they belong back in the top tier of the West.
Opening Week Games
We also know a few more opening week games.
October 21
• Minnesota Timberwolves at Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). ESPN’s NBA coverage starts with a showdown between two teams that radically changed who they are this offseason: The Timberwolves, now with LaMelo Ball and a wildly entertaining offense, against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat.
• Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). A classic star-studded West Coast showdown to open the season for both teams, with Stephen Curry and the Warriors heading down the coast to take on Luka Doncic and the Lakers.
October 22
• Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Donovan Mitchell and Cleveland will look to prove this season that last season’s trip to the Eastern Conference Finals was not a one-off fluke, taking on a 76ers team that added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown and is looking to supplant Cleveland in that spot.
• Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). If Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets want to prove they belong back on top in the West and are a threat, the Thunder are the bar. Any game with Jokic and Chet Holmgren is going to be fun.
October 23
• New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Prime is going to broadcast double-headers on Friday night throughout the NBA season, which starts with an impressive first night, tipped off by two of the last three NBA champions facing off in Boston. Jalen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum is always a show, and these should be two of the top regular season teams in the East.
• Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m., Prime Video). Kevin Durant and the Rockets want to prove last season (fifth in the West, unceremonious first-round playoff exit) was a one-off and they are much better than that. The return of point guard Fred VanVleet to orchestrate the offense will help a lot with that. However, their first test is against the defending Western Conference Champions and in-state rivals, the Spurs, with Victor Wembanyama. That’s a good early measuring stick for Houston.
Read the full article here