Unveiling the NBA 2025-26 Season Schedule

This game marks Kevin Durant`s return to Oklahoma City as part of the Houston Rockets, after a significant trade. With the Thunder raising their first championship banner, Durant`s presence will add a fascinating dynamic. The Rockets, bolstered by Durant`s arrival, are poised to challenge the defending champions in the Western Conference, making this a fitting season opener.

This matchup ensures that two legendary stars, LeBron James (40) and Stephen Curry (37), will be well-rested and ready for their 56th career head-to-head. James holds a slight 14-13 regular-season edge, while Curry dominates in the playoffs with a 17-11 record and a 3-2 series lead. As these players approach the twilight of their careers, every encounter becomes a must-watch event, promising a competitive game between two teams expected to contend in their conference.

Kevin Durant`s return games against former teams have historically favored him, as he`s maintained a perfect winning record in these matchups. After dropping 34 points in his return to OKC, 20 against Golden State, and 33 versus Brooklyn, Durant now leads a new contender against a re-structured Phoenix Suns roster, adding another layer of intrigue to his track record of dominant returns.

The biggest surprise of the summer was the Bucks` acquisition of Myles Turner, achieved by waiving Damian Lillard and stretching his contract. Turner`s arrival in Milwaukee, a team that has been eliminated by the Pacers in the playoffs for the past two seasons, further ignites what has become one of the NBA`s most intense rivalries.

Within 24 hours this June, the Celtics parted ways with two key members of their championship-winning team, sending Jrue Holiday to Portland and Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks. Porzingis` move was one of several by Atlanta that could propel them back into contention for a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference. His return to Boston, where he quickly became a fan favorite, promises a spirited reunion.

This game features a clash between last season`s two No. 1 seeds and contrasting styles: the Cavaliers led the league in offensive rating, while the Thunder were defensive leaders. Their previous season`s encounters were captivating, with the Cavaliers winning a high-scoring game and the Thunder securing a dominant revenge victory. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams battling Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, and elite frontcourt pairings, this matchup promises to be equally compelling.

The Hawks and Grizzlies showcased the NBA`s fastest offenses last season, with each team averaging just 10.6 seconds per possession. Their second meeting last season perfectly illustrated the excitement of fast-paced basketball, as Atlanta clinched a 132-130 victory in March with a buzzer-beating layup after a late steal, promising another high-octane affair.

The luster of this NBA Finals rematch is dimmed by Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton`s Achilles tear, sidelining him for the season. However, the friendly yet fierce competition between MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his childhood friend Andrew Nembhard, who will step in as the Pacers` primary ballhandler, remains a compelling reason to watch.

Following a gentlemen`s sweep in the conference finals, the Timberwolves, who lost key contributor Nickeil Alexander-Walker, face the challenge of proving their contention against a young Oklahoma City squad with its entire rotation returning. As Minnesota aims to break through after two consecutive conference finals appearances, all eyes will be on 24-year-old All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards to make another significant leap against the Thunder`s stifling defense led by Luguentz Dort.

Just months ago, few gave New York a chance in their playoff series against the defending NBA champions, especially after being swept in the regular season. However, after the Knicks mounted stunning comebacks, Jayson Tatum`s Achilles tear in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden altered the trajectory of both the Celtics and the entire league. Now, New York is seen as an NBA Finals favorite, while Boston enters a rebuilding year, setting the stage for a dramatic rematch.

Madison Square Garden`s faithful love a villain, a role now enthusiastically filled by Trae Young. After Young playfully “rolled dice” on the court to celebrate a victory against New York last season, and with Atlanta poised to be a significant factor in the East for the first time since their 2021 conference finals run that eliminated the Knicks, expect a fervent reception for the star point guard in Gotham.

Kicking off the Christmas Day slate, this game features the two leading contenders for the Eastern Conference Finals. It`s a significant matchup, highlighting the concentration of star power in the East compared to the other Christmas Day games, which mostly feature Western Conference teams. With Donovan Mitchell battling Jalen Brunson and Evan Mobley facing Karl-Anthony Towns, this early look will indicate which team holds an edge in what could be a season-long contest.

San Antonio has closely observed Oklahoma City`s meticulous rebuilding process, making this matchup a crucial test for the Spurs` own trajectory. While San Antonio returns to the Christmas stage for the first time since 2016, Victor Wembanyama showcased his talent last season with a 42-point, 18-rebound, four-block performance in a loss to the Knicks. Led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the defending champion Thunder are back on the Christmas Day schedule for the first time since 2018.

While nothing will match the emotional pageantry of Klay Thompson`s initial return to San Francisco, his matchups against the Warriors will always carry an amplified significance, especially at Chase Center. The league strategically placed this game on the Christmas Day showcase, also featuring the highly anticipated debut of Cooper Flagg on Christmas.

LeBron James` first Christmas Day game as a Laker in 2018 was against Kevin Durant, and now, these two all-time greats will anchor the holiday festivities once again. Much has changed since then, with Durant`s journey spanning from the Warriors to the Nets, Suns, and now the Rockets. James has remained with the Lakers, seeing several coaching changes. However, both players` elite production remains constant: Durant, 36, averaged 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists last season, while James, 40, averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in his 22nd campaign.

A visit from Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves is hardly a Christmas treat for Nikola Jokic`s Nuggets. The Timberwolves have dominated their rivals, winning the last five consecutive games, a streak that includes Minnesota`s historic road comeback in Game 7 of the 2024 Western Conference semifinals. Despite Jokic`s impressive 61-point triple-double in their last meeting, it wasn`t enough to secure a win for the Nuggets in that double-overtime classic.

The last two MVPs, who have combined for four of the past five awards, have developed a subtle rivalry despite playing different positions. Their back-to-back March meetings in Oklahoma City saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deliver 40 points in a blowout win, followed by Nikola Jokic`s 35-point, 18-rebound response. Gilgeous-Alexander not only claimed his first MVP but also secured the seven-game playoff series en route to a championship. With the Nuggets adding reinforcements this summer, their next encounter promises a more balanced contest.

Every Lakers-Mavericks game is sure to intrigue for years to come, but this season features a couple of exciting firsts. All eyes will be on the clash as Cooper Flagg, Dallas` No. 1 pick, shares the court for the first time with Luka Doncic, the franchise`s former star. The buzz will be palpable when Doncic faces Flagg on a switch and starts his signature step-back three. Additionally, the Mavericks` game in Los Angeles will be Anthony Davis` first time playing there since last season`s trade, having missed their February game at Crypto.com Arena due to injury.

Circle October 22 for one of the most plot-heavy opening-week matchups. Top picks Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper will make their NBA debuts against each other, potentially sparking a re-energized Mavericks-Spurs rivalry. This game also marks Victor Wembanyama`s first regular-season appearance after a blood-clot scare ended his 2024-25 season. With both Dallas and San Antonio aiming for playoff pushes, this game is packed with narratives.

The budding stars, Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, have faced off four times in their careers, with Holmgren holding a 3-1 advantage. In their last year`s matchup, Holmgren played a significant role in limiting Wembanyama to career lows in points (6) and field goals (1). Expect the play between these ultra-competitive “slim towers” to be intense, despite their downplaying of the rivalry. Wembanyama edged Holmgren for Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, but Holmgren secured championship hardware first. Wembanyama`s last win against OKC (February 29, 2024) ended a five-game losing streak against the Thunder.

Former college teammates Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper will face each other as opponents for the first time on December 27, having both been top-five draft picks. While this game might not be a high-scoring affair as the Jazz are likely heading for another lottery pick season, Bailey`s shooting prowess and Harper`s playmaking skills offer significant long-term star potential. For those invested in the future of the league, this is a must-watch, not to mention the presence of Victor Wembanyama.

LeBron James has generally found success as a visiting player in Cleveland, holding a 9-3 record with the Heat and Lakers, averaging 31.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 7.1 assists. Last season marked a rare defeat, as the Cavs dominated L.A. 134-110 en route to a 64-win season—the only time the franchise surpassed 60 wins without James on the roster. James and the Lakers will visit Cleveland in late January, in a game that both teams hope features two contenders. More significantly, it could be one of James` final appearances in his Northeast Ohio hometown.

The NBA`s best defensive player, Victor Wembanyama, has yet to effectively slow down the league`s best offensive player, Nikola Jokic, in their previous encounters. Jokic has averaged a remarkable 36.8 points in six matchups against Wembanyama, including 41 and 46 points on consecutive nights in January. Can Wembanyama improve his containment of Jokic in his third season, or will Jokic continue to dominate the budding star nine years his junior?