2025-26 NBA Season Schedule: Key Dates and Matchups
The NBA has revealed key dates for the 2025-26 season, including Opening Night, Christmas Day, and MLK Day matchups.
This matchup promises to be an instant classic, pitting two NBA legends against each other while introducing a new dynamic...
NBA's 80th Season Tipping Off with Thrilling Matchups
The NBA's 80th season is set to kick off on October 21, 2025, with the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Before the game, the Thunder will raise their championship banner, and reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will lead his team against Kevin Durant, who now plays for the Rockets.
Exciting Opening Night Doubleheader
The opening night will feature a doubleheader, with the Thunder-Rockets game starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Fubo, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET on NBC and Fubo. This matchup will mark the 57th meeting between Lakers star LeBron James and Warriors guard Stephen Curry, with James making history as the first player to participate in 23 NBA seasons.
Christmas Day Games and MLK Day Slate
The Christmas Day schedule includes five marquee matchups, featuring top stars and teams. Some of the notable games include:
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks: 12 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN/Fubo
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs: 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN/Fubo
Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks: 5 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN/Fubo
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets: 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN/Fubo
Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: 10:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN/Fubo
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate on January 19, 2026, will feature four games, including:
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks: 1 p.m. ET on Peacock
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks: 5 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons: 8 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock
The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Golden State Warriors on opening night of the 2025-26 NBA season, marking the 57th meeting between LeBron James and Stephen Curry. This highly anticipated matchup will feature James, 40, competing in his 23rd NBA season, a record for most seasons played in the league. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic will play in his first season opener as a Laker, adding to the excitement of the game.
Key Details:
Game Date and Time: October 22, 2025, 3:00 AM WAT
Venue: Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors
Notable Players: LeBron James (Lakers), Stephen Curry (Warriors), and Luka Doncic (Lakers)
This matchup promises to be an instant classic, pitting two NBA legends against each other while introducing a new dynamic with Doncic joining the Lakers. The game will be broadcast on NBC, making it a widely accessible event for basketball fans.
Kevin Durant, the two-time NBA champion and 2014 NBA MVP, has been traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets in a blockbuster deal. The Rockets sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, and five second-round picks to the Suns in exchange for Durant. This trade is expected to strengthen the Rockets' lineup, with Durant joining Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun.
Trade Details:
Kevin Durant's Contract: Durant has one year left on his contract, worth $54.7 million, and is eligible for a two-year extension with the Rockets, potentially worth $122 million.
Rockets' Motivation: The trade fixes the Rockets' offensive issues, adding a new dimension of shot creation and three-point shooting to their lineup.
Suns' Return: The Suns received Jalen Green, a rising star, and Dillon Brooks, a defensive anchor, but failed to acquire any of Houston's young core players, such as Jabari Smith Jr. or Amen Thompson.
The trade is expected to boost the Rockets' title chances, with Durant's experience and skillset complementing their young core. However, concerns linger about Durant's contract and potential extensions for the Rockets' young players.
NBA Christmas Day 2025 Lineup
The NBA Christmas Day lineup for 2025 features five exciting games.
Here's the schedule:
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks: 12 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder: 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN (Thunder's first Christmas Day game since 2018)
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors: 5 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN (Klay Thompson returns to San Francisco with the Mavericks)
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Laker: 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets: 10:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN
The New York Knicks lead the league with 57 Christmas appearances, and they'll host the Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. The Christmas Day games promise to deliver thrilling matchups and star-studded performances, showcasing the best of the NBA
NBA Season Kicks Off with Thrilling Matchups
The 2025-26 NBA season is set to tip off on October 21, with the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting the Houston Rockets.
The following nights will feature exciting games, including:
October 22: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET on ESPN) and San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks (9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN), featuring top draft picks Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper.
2025-26 OPENING NIGHT on NBC and Peacock!
— NBA (@NBA) August 12, 2025
🍿 Shai and the champs get their rings
🍿 KD debuts for Houston
🍿 Year 2 of Steph/Jimmy and Luka/LeBron
NBA Schedule Release presented by @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/zZzj0fpTzd
October 23: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN), a rematch of last season's NBA Finals, and Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET on ESPN), pitting Nikola Jokic against Stephen Curry.
Notable Matchups and Storylines
- Cavaliers vs. Knicks: A potential preview of the Eastern Conference Finals, with Donovan Mitchell leading the Cavs against Jalen Brunson and the Knicks.
- Spurs vs. Mavericks: Victor Wembanyama's return and Cooper Flagg's NBA debut promise an exciting matchup between two talented teams.
- Thunder vs. Pacers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the reigning champions face Pascal Siakam and the Pacers in a highly anticipated rematch.
- Nuggets vs. Warriors: Nikola Jokic, a three-time NBA MVP, takes on Stephen Curry, a two-time NBA MVP, in a thrilling Western Conference showdown.
Here are the games scheduled for October 27 and Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
October 27 Games
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Games (January 19)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks
Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons
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