The NBA has officially released its opening-night and holiday schedule for the 2025-26 season, confirming a slate full of marquee matchups and historic milestones. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder will raise the curtain on Oct. 21 with a 7:30 p.m. ET start against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. That same night, the Los Angeles Lakers will meet the Golden State Warriors to cap opening-night festivities. A notable milestone looms as LeBron James, at 40, is set to begin his 23rd NBA season and will pass Vince Carter for the most seasons played in league history once he steps onto the court.
Christmas Day will feature a full five-game slate, highlighted by the Thunder and Rockets facing off again as part of a robust lineup that includes several anticipated rivalries and young stars competing on one of the league’s biggest days.
Christmas Day schedule
– Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks (12 p.m. ET)
– San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (2:30 p.m. ET)
– Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors (5:00 p.m. ET)
– Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (8:00 p.m. ET)
– Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET)
The league’s early-season plans also include marquee matchups and TV-wise milestones that were previously leaked. ESPN’s Shams Charania had outlined the confirmed games before the official release, and the league added more details, including a four-game Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate and other high-profile regular-season contests.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day four-game slate
– Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks (1:00 p.m. ET)
– Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (2:30 p.m. ET)
– Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks (5:00 p.m. ET)
– Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons (8:00 p.m. ET)
Cooper Flagg’s highly anticipated debut
– Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg will open his NBA career against the San Antonio Spurs, marking a historic first-game hurdle as the No. 1 overall pick faces No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper, in what would be only the second time in league history that the top two picks meet to begin a season. The Oct. 22 matchup between the Mavericks and Spurs is set for ESPN, and the Cavaliers vs. Knicks also features on ESPN that same day.
The following day, Oct. 23, will feature the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana Pacers, followed by a Nuggets vs. Warriors matchup, underscoring a schedule packed with high-profile duels to begin the season.
Streaming and early-week schedule
– Peacock will carry a set of Monday games throughout the regular season, beginning with the Cavaliers vs. Pistons on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Nuggets vs. Timberwolves at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Overall takeaway
This release confirms a season designed to showcase long-running rivalries, new talent entering the league, and historic milestones that fans will be eager to follow from opening night through Christmas Day and beyond. It sets the stage for an exciting start to the 2025-26 NBA season, with storylines ranging from LeBron James’s longevity to the emergence of the league’s newest stars and the return of familiar weekend and holiday rituals.
Summary: The NBA’s 2025-26 schedule centers on marquee openers, Christmas-day drama, MLK Day promotions, and notable debuts for top draft picks, all while providing a strong streaming and TV plan to maximize fan access and engagement. If you’d like, I can add a brief section highlighting the most compelling matchups to watch week by week or tailor a quick season-preview intro for your site.