The advance information turned out to be accurate. The National Basketball Association formally revealed its initial night and Yuletide Day game schedules this Tuesday, which will align with anticipations for those following the updates.
The reigning NBA victors, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are slated to commence the 2025-26 NBA term on its opening night, engaging in a match against Kevin Durant’s Houston Rockets on October 21. This game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. ET start.
Later that evening, the Los Angeles Lakers will compete against the Golden State Warriors to start their respective seasons.
Alongside the highlighted games and players taking part in the opening-night activities, a milestone is anticipated once the Lakers begin their play. When LeBron James enters the game, he is poised to surpass Vince Carter, attaining the record for the most seasons played throughout NBA history. James, at age 40, is prepared to embark on his 23rd NBA season.
Each of these four teams is also slated to participate on Yuletide Day, which will showcase an expansive, five-game lineup. Displayed is the complete league schedule for December 25:
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Cleveland Cavaliers versus New York Knicks at 12 p.m. ET
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San Antonio Spurs versus Oklahoma City Thunder at 2:30 p.m. ET
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Dallas Mavericks versus Golden State Warriors at 5:00 p.m. ET
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Houston Rockets versus Los Angeles Lakers at 8:00 p.m. ET
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Minnesota Timberwolves versus Denver Nuggets at 10:30 p.m. ET
NBA enthusiasts tracking news updates should find these games predictable, having been initially reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania the prior Friday. Beyond these matchups, the NBA has also declared a selection of four games for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and confirmed supplementary noteworthy early-season games.
On the subsequent Thursday, the league released the complete 2025-26 NBA schedule, encompassing links to each team’s schedule and every date during the season.
Prior to this Thursday, the league had incrementally announced opening night games, Yuletide games, and a number of other prominent games during the 2025-26 NBA season.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is assigned a four-game slate
The NBA has historically scheduled games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day since its recognition as a federal holiday in 1986. The Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks will open the four-game set on MLK Day this season. The initial game will commence at 1 p.m. ET.
Following them, the Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers will play at 2:30 p.m. ET, the Mavericks and the Knicks at 5 p.m. ET, and the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons at 8 p.m. ET.
The NBA affirms key early matchups, including Cooper Flagg’s inaugural game
Dallas Mavericks’ rookie, Cooper Flagg, is set to begin his NBA journey with a noteworthy game. His initial appearance will be against the San Antonio Spurs, which had the second overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft.
This event will signify only the second occasion in the league’s history where the top overall pick will compete against the second overall pick to start the season. Flagg, the Mavericks’ No. 1 pick, will challenge Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick, on October 22, to be broadcast on ESPN.
The Cavaliers and Knicks are also scheduled to play on ESPN on October 22.
On the following day, the Thunder and Indiana Pacers will compete, televised on the network. They will be followed by the Nuggets and Warriors.
Peacock is set to stream games every Monday throughout the NBA’s regular season. The league has disclosed the inaugural set of these games this Tuesday, which will feature the Cavaliers versus the Pistons on October 27. This contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET.
The Nuggets and Timberwolves will meet at 9:30 p.m. ET later that evening.
NBA Cup game schedules unveiled
On Wednesday, the league made public 15 group play games for the Emirates NBA Cup. These games will be distributed across various dates, spanning from October 31 to November 28.
These games are to be broadcast on Prime Video, NBC and Peacock, or ESPN.
Instructions for viewing NBA games during the 2025-26 season
The NBA has presented a helpful guide for supporters inquiring about where to watch nationally televised games throughout the 2025-26 NBA season.
Games will be shown on ABC, NBC and Peacock, ESPN, and Amazon Prime during the season.
