The 2025-26 NBA schedule has dropped, delivering an exhilarating lineup of must-see video games crammed with excessive stakes, emotional reunions and budding rivalries.
From Kevin Durant’s Oklahoma Metropolis homecoming on opening evening to a star-packed Christmas Day conflict between the Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, listed below are 10 standout matchups to mark in your calendar because the common season approaches.
Oct. 21: Houston Rockets at Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
This opening evening matchup is a must-watch. Durant, who left Oklahoma Metropolis as a free agent in 2016 and was traded to the Rockets from the Suns in a blockbuster deal this June, returns to the place his profession started. He’s chasing a 3rd NBA title, dealing with a Thunder group contemporary off their first-ever championship. Oklahoma Metropolis enters the 2025-26 season because the Western Convention’s group to beat. Durant will face his former group as they increase their championship banner at Paycom Middle, which ought to gas him because the season continues.
Oct. 22: San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks
Past the Mavs-Spurs rivalry, this matchup sells itself. Prime total decide Cooper Flagg takes on No. 2 decide Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 decide in 2023, in a conflict of rising stars. Kyrie Irving stays sidelined from his ACL tear, however Wembanyama returns after a blood clot restricted him to 46 video games final season. The Mavericks’ revamped roster, led by Flagg, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, will check the Spurs’ dynamic younger core of Wembanyama, Harper, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Citadel.
Oct. 23: Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at Indiana Pacers
This NBA Finals rematch could be much more compelling with a wholesome Tyrese Haliburton, however the Pacers’ star tore his Achilles early in Recreation 7 and is predicted to overlook many of the season. Regardless, anticipate depth from each groups on this championship grudge match. With out Haliburton and Myles Turner, who signed a four-year, $107 million cope with the Milwaukee Bucks in free company, can the Pacers’ retooled roster compete with Oklahoma Metropolis’s dynamic championship core?
Oct. 24: Cleveland Cavaliers at Nets
The Nets needed to make this listing. Regardless of a modest 20.5-win whole over/underneath from FanDuel Sportsbook, Brooklyn’s historic five-rookie class might flip heads if developed nicely. They face an early check towards a Cavaliers group that dominated the Jap Convention common season final yr. The Nets went 0-4 towards Cleveland in 2024-25 and shall be seeking to steal their first recreation at Barclays Middle, the place they received simply 12 video games a yr in the past.
Nov. 24: Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns
Durant faces one other reunion, this time towards his former Suns squad. By this level within the 2025-26 season, the Rockets’ id must be clear, however the revamped Suns, led by Devin Booker, should still be discovering their footing. Historical past reveals Durant rises to the event in these conditions. He scored 34 factors in his Oklahoma Metropolis return, 20 factors in his Golden State return and 33 factors in his Brooklyn return.
Dec. 25: Cleveland Cavaliers at Knicks
With a number of Jap Convention stars sidelined by accidents, the Cavaliers and Knicks are poised to chase titles within the upcoming season, setting the stage for an electrifying Christmas Day showdown. That includes Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Cities, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, this star-packed recreation guarantees an exhilarating present for NBA followers in every single place.
Dec. 27: Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs
Rutgers followers received’t need to miss this matchup, as Harper clashes with former teammate Ace Bailey, the No. 5 total decide within the 2025 draft. Flagg is the clear favourite for Rookie of the 12 months at -190 odds, per FanDuel Sportsbook, with Ace Bailey second at +850 and Dylan Harper fourth at +1200. This recreation is probably not essentially the most thrilling, however for Harper and Bailey, it might show pivotal within the Rookie of the 12 months race.
Jan. 17: Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics
The Hawks are seen as a group on the rise after making a collection of serious offseason acquisitions, together with a commerce for former Celtics middle Kristaps Porzingis. In the meantime, Boston faces challenges with out Jayson Tatum for many of the 2025-26 season due to damage, having traded Jrue Vacation to Portland and with Jaylen Brown coming back from arthroscopic surgical procedure for {a partially} torn proper meniscus. If Atlanta goals to say a high seed within the Jap Convention, they’ll show it in Boston on Jan.17.
Jan. 19: Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers
This recreation pits the top-seeded Cavaliers and Thunder towards one another in a battle of contrasting strengths, with Cleveland boasting the NBA’s greatest offense and Oklahoma Metropolis main in defensive effectivity final season. Their stylistic conflict delivered an exhilarating 2024-25 regular-season showdown, with the Cavaliers edging out a 129-122 dwelling victory. But every week later, the Thunder answered with a decisive 20-point victory, displaying this matchup might swing both means.
Feb. 1: Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at Denver Nuggets
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Nikola Jokic. A battle between the league’s most up-to-date MVPs. Gilgeous-Alexander topped the league with 32.7 factors per recreation final season, edging out Jokic for the MVP and halting his bid for a fourth award. Collectively, these stars have claimed 4 of the final 5 MVP honors, and each shall be seeking to declare one other in 2025-26.
