The NBA schedule for the 2025-26 season has officially been released, revealing plenty of intriguing games with a variety of storylines: players facing former teams, rookie debuts, must-watch matchups between contenders, and measuring-stick games against the league’s best.
As part of our NBA schedule release coverage, we picked the most intriguing game for every team. We’ll start with one that made several notable offseason moves and looks like a contender — but can it match up against the best in its conference?
Atlanta Hawks
@ Cleveland Cavaliers (Apr. 8)
If all goes according to plan and the Hawks are in contention for home-court advantage, this late-season matchup with the Cavaliers could carry real weight. The third-to-last game of the regular season, it may determine whether Trae Young and Co. enter the playoffs as a threat against a Finals contender like Cleveland.
Boston Celtics
@ New York Knicks (Oct. 24)
The Boston Celtics gutted their roster for salary cap purposes this summer, sending out veterans Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday via trade. Jayson Tatum, who is set to miss most, if not all, of the season with a torn Achilles, leaves Jaylen Brown and Derrick White tasked with keeping Boston afloat. This opener at Madison Square Garden will be their first test.
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Brooklyn Nets
vs. Utah Jazz (Dec. 4)
Casual NBA fans may not find many Nets games intriguing, as they’re rebuilding, if not outright tanking. But when they host the Utah Jazz, we could see 10 first-rounders on the floor simultaneously. Utah and Brooklyn have stockpiled young talent, yet neither has found their cornerstone.
Charlotte Hornets
@ Atlanta Hawks (Nov. 23)
The Hawks have a relatively similar play style to the Charlotte Hornets, albeit with a considerably larger number of wins to come with it. Coming into this season, the Hornets should be looking to make the Play-In Tournament; the Hawks have made it to that point in four straight seasons. If Charlotte looks outclassed, that will not be a good sign.
Chicago Bulls
vs. Sacramento Kings (Oct. 29)
The Chicago Bulls remain stuck in NBA purgatory, never fully rebuilding but not good enough to make a playoff push. That makes this home matchup with the Kings, dubbed the “Bulls of the West,” a rare highlight. Sacramento now features DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, who spent three seasons as teammates in Chicago.
Cleveland Cavaliers
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Jan. 19)
Last season’s January meeting between these teams featured a combined 64-10 record. A similar clash could be in store, as neither club lost much in the offseason. The Cavaliers pulled out a thrilling win last year, fueling belief in their title chances. This season’s showdown will be another midseason litmus test.
Dallas Mavericks
vs. San Antonio Spurs (Oct. 22)
While the Dallas Mavericks have Anthony Davis and will be facing Victor Wembanyama, the intrigue around this game is centered on Cooper Flagg’s debut. Dubbed a generational talent and a potential franchise cornerstone, the NBA is eager to see what Flagg can do on the main stage after impressing at Duke and in summer league play.
Denver Nuggets
@ Oklahoma City Thunder (Feb. 27)
The Nuggets don’t face their 2025 second-round foe, the Thunder, until February. They appeared to improve this offseason, trading for Cam Johnson and adding much-needed depth, but will it be enough against Oklahoma City’s young stars? If Denver can leave Oklahoma City with a win, it should be considered a bona fide title contender.
Detroit Pistons
vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Oct. 27)
The Detroit Pistons had an interesting offseason, letting several free agents walk and signing former Miami Heat sharpshooter Duncan Robinson. Now healthy, Jaden Ivey will help fill the void Dennis Schröder left. But did Detroit take a step forward or backward? This early-season matchup with Cleveland could be telling.
Golden State Warriors
@ Los Angeles Clippers (Apr. 12)
Taking place on the final day of the regular season, the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors figure to be competing for playoff positioning, just as they were last season when they faced off in an all-time classic. The Clippers came away with an overtime road victory. Could this be another memorable meeting?
Houston Rockets
@ Oklahoma City Thunder (Oct. 21)
Kevin Durant’s debut with the Rockets couldn’t come at a more awkward time or against a more awkward opponent. Durant spent the first eight seasons with the Thunder and unceremoniously departed to join the 73-9 Warriors. Now, he’ll watch Oklahoma City raise its first championship banner. On the court, it will test the Durant-led Rockets against the defending champs.
Indiana Pacers
@ Oklahoma City Thunder (Jan. 23)
Returning to the court where Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals won’t be enjoyable for the Indiana Pacers. But it does create intrigue, as Indiana lost that game after Haliburton exited in the first quarter. The Pacers could reclaim some good vibes if they pull off an upset in Oklahoma City.
Los Angeles Clippers
vs. Golden State Warriors (Apr. 12)
This game is as crucial to the Clippers as it is to the Warriors. One benefit of Los Angeles’ late-season victory over Golden State in 2025 was that it gave its veterans extra rest instead of forcing them into the Play-In Tournament. With everyone a year older, that rest could be even more important.
Los Angeles Lakers
@ Dallas Mavericks (Jan. 24)
There may be no bigger or more intriguing game on the schedule than when Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 24. “Fire Nico” chants should be alive and well that night as Dončić and LeBron James square off against Davis and Flagg. Few rivalries in the NBA feel as personal right now as Dončić versus his former organization.
Memphis Grizzlies
vs. Orlando Magic (Jan. 15)
Although this game will be in Berlin, Germany, it will be the first time that former Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane faces his old team as a member of the Magic. While there didn’t appear to be hard feelings, it will be notable to see Bane guard and be guarded by Ja Morant, his backcourt mate for five seasons.
Miami Heat
vs. Golden State Warriors (Nov. 19)
The Jimmy Butler III return game has to be circled for NBA fans. It will be the talk of the league when Butler heads to Miami for his second game against the Heat after they traded him to Golden State. His unhappiness tore at Miami’s seams to the point that the team suspended him multiple times. The crowd’s reaction will be one to watch.
Milwaukee Bucks
@ Indiana Pacers (Nov. 3)
Now signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, Myles Turner’s return to the Indiana Pacers, where he spent the first decade of his career, stands out. Turner left for the Bucks just weeks after being an integral part of the Pacers’ thrilling run to the NBA Finals. The reaction from the crowd and his former teammates should be fascinating.
Minnesota Timberwolves
@ Denver Nuggets (Dec. 25)
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Nuggets have cultivated a rivalry over the past couple of years, meeting in the playoffs in 2023 and 2024 and producing a thrilling double-overtime game that was arguably the best of last season. They’ll face off in Denver to cap the NBA’s Christmas slate. It doesn’t get much better than Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokić doing battle.
New Orleans Pelicans
@ Dallas Mavericks (Nov. 5)
While they have a talented roster, the New Orleans Pelicans don’t enter this season with much intrigue. However, their first game against Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks will draw plenty of attention. Assuming Zion Williamson is healthy, this would pit two former Duke Blue Devils and No. 1 picks against each other. Both are high-flying, making this a must-watch.
New York Knicks
vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Oct. 22)
We’ll know much about the 2025-26 New York Knicks right out of the gate as they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Arguably, the two favorites to come out of the East are these teams, which have elite quartets headlined by strong-willed guards Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers) and Jalen Brunson (Knicks). Though early, the outcome of this game will shape many opinions on who’s a true contender.
Oklahoma City Thunder
vs. Denver Nuggets (Mar. 9)
Hosting Denver in the latter part of the regular season, this is a classic measuring-stick game for the Thunder. They could have all the prior regular-season wins before this matchup against the much-improved Nuggets, but if they falter and lose a home game against arguably their biggest threat with the playoffs near, a slight alarm may be raised.
Orlando Magic
@ Cleveland Cavaliers (Mar. 24)
The Orlando Magic went all in this offseason, acquiring Desmond Bane to form a star quartet with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. But can they match up with the East’s best? This March 24 matchup with the Cavaliers will answer many questions, including whether Orlando can be a true Eastern Conference contender or even a title contender.
Philadelphia 76ers
vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Nov. 17)
When the Philadelphia 76ers host the Los Angeles Clippers, it’ll be a reunion for James Harden, Paul George, and Nicolas Batum, who’ve spent time on both sides of this matchup. Aside from that, it’ll feature two teams that see themselves as contenders but haven’t quite reached that threshold around the league.
Phoenix Suns
vs. Houston Rockets (Nov. 24)
For the Phoenix Suns, who are going through a mini-rebuild, there’s no more intriguing game on the schedule than Kevin Durant’s return to Phoenix. The crowd reaction will be interesting, as will his fit on the Rockets. Jalen Green’s fit with the Suns, included in the Durant trade, will also be worth watching.
Portland Trail Blazers
vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Apr. 10)
The Portland Trail Blazers appear to be going all in on contending for the playoffs, making this matchup with the Clippers, the second-to-last game of the regular season, a critical one. Los Angeles is also seen as a playoff contender. If anything, Portland can measure itself against a team that is also defense-minded as it transitions into the next season.
Sacramento Kings
vs. San Antonio Spurs (Mar. 17)
With low expectations heading into the 2025-26 campaign, the most interest in Kings basketball will be when De’Aaron Fox comes back to town on March 17. He spent the first seven full seasons of his career with Sacramento before requesting a trade to San Antonio. He was a beloved figure on the court and in the community and should receive a nice ovation.
San Antonio Spurs
@ Oklahoma City Thunder (Dec. 25)
Just over two months into the season, the Spurs have a perfect game to determine their standing in the Western Conference when they travel to take on the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Christmas Day. The matchup between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren is always ultra-competitive, making this a game within the game to watch.
Toronto Raptors
@ Cleveland Cavaliers (Oct. 31)
When the Toronto Raptors traded for Brandon Ingram before last season’s trade deadline, it signaled an intention to make a playoff push. However, questions remain about the fit of Ingram in a starting lineup that doesn’t have much shooting. But if they can go toe-to-toe with the Cavaliers early in the season, the Raptors will be looked at differently.
Utah Jazz
@ Golden State (Nov. 24)
This season for the Utah Jazz is already being chalked up as a rebuilding year, making this game against the Warriors more about storylines. It’s all about Lauri Markkanen and his fit on teams around the league, as he’s a prime trade candidate. He’d fit perfectly with Golden State, and performing well against the Warriors could sway them to be more aggressive in pursuing him.
Lauri Markkanen is averaging 39.5 points per game in EuroBasket exhibition play for Finland.
After a down season in 2024-25 with the Jazz, Markkanen looks poised to bounce back strong.pic.twitter.com/SeT8QxguzM
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) August 12, 2025
Washington Wizards
vs. New Orleans Pelicans (Jan. 9)
The most notable offseason move for the Washington Wizards was dealing Jordan Poole to the Pelicans for C.J. McCollum. While it was mainly for cap reasons, Poole was well-liked by Washington fans and should receive a warm welcome from the D.C. crowd. Knowing him, Poole will likely look to put on a show and make this ticket worth the price of admission.
