10 must-watch matchups on 2025-26 NBA slate
The NBA unveiled the 2025-26 schedule on Thursday, and among the 1,200-plus games are a slew of matchups rife with potential storylines and drama.
Here's a look at our 10 favourite contests to watch:
Oct. 21: Houston at Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder will raise their championship banner on opening night against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets. While it's unclear whether there's still animosity between the Thunder faithful and Durant over his departure in free agency in 2016, the 15-time All-Star and his latest team may prove to be Oklahoma City's toughest opponent in the West. Not bad for the first game of the 2025-26 slate.
Oct. 22: Spurs at Mavericks
The first and second selections in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, will make their regular-season debuts against each other in a Texas-themed matchup on the campaign's second day. The game should also mark Victor Wembanyama's return from a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder that forced the French phenom to miss the final 30 contests of the 2024-25 season.
Oct. 25: Hawks at Knicks
Rivalries are a necessity for a regular season dulled by key absentees and apathetic efforts from teams chasing lottery odds. Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks return to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks on Oct. 25, renewing one of the league's best grudges. MSG loves a villain, and Young is happy to comply. He's averaged 25.6 points and 9.8 assists in 24 career games at MSG to pair with antagonizing antics that have riled up the crowd.
Nov. 3: Bucks at Pacers
The Milwaukee Bucks pulled out all the stops to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo in town, prying center Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers despite lacking cap space. They made the move work by stretching the remaining $113 million on Damian Lillard's deal. The Pacers have also eliminated the Bucks in the playoffs two years in a row, adding more context to a matchup that isn't short on narratives.
Nov. 26: Timberwolves at Thunder
A Western Conference finals rematch was always going to be a must-watch affair, and the Minnesota Timberwolves will have a point to prove after getting crushed in the lopsided five-game series. Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Co. will likely have extra motivation for this one, which is also an NBA Cup meeting and not on the second night of a back-to-back for either team.
Nov. 26: Rockets at Warriors
When the Golden State Warriors and Rockets met in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, the Warriors eked out a series victory in seven games to avoid another 3-1 collapse. The Rockets' lack of a No. 1 option was a glaring need in that series, and Houston addressed the issue by acquiring Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal. This contest will serve as a litmus test for two sides with plenty of history.
Dec. 5: Suns at Rockets
Speaking of Durant and the Rockets, the two-time NBA Finals MVP returns to his old stomping grounds in Phoenix on Nov. 24. However, it's the reverse fixture on Dec. 5 that could be a more compelling affair. The game will mark Jalen Green's first time back in Phoenix, and while many players tend to provide milquetoast remarks when asked about such matchups, Green thrives on these moments - whether he does his talking through his words or his game.
Dec. 23: Thunder at Spurs
Wembanyama arguably weathered the first humiliating experience of his bourgeoning NBA career in a clash with fellow athletic oddity Chet Holmgren in October. The Thunder big man helped limit Wembanyama to a career-worst six points and one made field goal. Barring injuries, this matchup will be their fifth meeting, with the Thunder holding a 3-1 record in the previous four encounters.
Dec. 25: Cavaliers at Knicks
In a matchup of the presumed two-best clubs in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to MSG to open the Christmas Day slate against a Knicks team desperate to improve on last season's shortcomings. The matchup is also the only one on the festive day to feature squads from the East, further establishing how wide open the conference could be.
Jan. 24: Lakers at Mavericks
In the second of four meetings between the two teams, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic returns to Dallas for a second time since the stunning trade. Doncic recorded 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals in his first game back in April. Dust off those "Fire Nico" signs or make new versions if American Airlines Center security seized the previous ones.