The opening game and Christmas Day game have been revealed, but when will the rest of the NBA schedule be released?

The key matchups for the NBA's annual big day have been revealed. The opening game, Christmas Day game, and Martin Luther King Day game were leaked by the NBA. The full NBA schedule will be released on Thursday, August 14th. So, which of the matchups revealed so far are the most eye-catching?

Opening Game Rankings

The rest of the NBA schedule has not yet been confirmed, but the 2025-26 season opener will be on October 21, 2025.

1. Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

As always, the defending champions will play in the season opener. The Oklahoma City Thunder alone is exciting to watch. They won the championship in a style rarely seen in recent championship runs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder may be led by reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but their true strength lies in their roster depth. Even in the playoffs, the Oklahoma City Thunder often field 10 or 11 players.

The team boasts numerous elite three-point shooters to whom Gilgeous-Alexander can pass the ball. These players are highly versatile with the ball and willing to make the extra pass.

In addition, the Thunder boast a plethora of top-tier defenders. Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Carson Wallace, and Jalen Williams are among the league's best point defenders, while Chet Holmgren is an exceptional rim protector.

The Thunder's opening game is particularly intriguing, as they will face the rising star Houston Rockets. Kevin Durant will make his Rockets debut against his former team on the first day of the NBA season.

There's still a rift between Durant and the team that drafted him, as the greatest small forward of all time left Oklahoma City in his prime to join the Golden State Warriors, already the league's best team. A quick scroll through Durant's Twitter feed reveals the ongoing tension between him and Thunder fans.

Beyond the drama surrounding Durant's return game, the Rockets will be must-see TV in the 2025-26 season. This team boasts a plethora of athletes ready for spectacular dunks, and they had arguably the best offseason in the entire NBA this summer.

In addition to signing Durant, the Rockets also added Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela to bolster an already formidable roster. The Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder isn't just the best opening night game, it could be one of the most exciting on the entire NBA schedule.

2. Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers

While the Thunder vs. Rockets matchup is packed with excitement, the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers remain the NBA's two dominant teams. Stephen Curry and LeBron James delivered a spectacular matchup in the greatest matchup in league history, delivering some iconic performances.

However, neither player has much left in the league. With both all-time greats nearing retirement, fans should tune in while they can.

Both players hope to add another championship ring before deciding to retire. With Jimmy Butler joining a core of Draymond Green, Luka Dončić, and James, the Warriors have been revitalized, arguably forming the league's best duo.

Christmas Game Rankings

Christmas games are often considered the most prestigious game of the season. The NBA pairs the league's strongest and most competitive teams on December 25th.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks

The Eastern Conference is expected to face disappointing results this upcoming season. Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton will miss the season, severely limiting the success of the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers. This leaves the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks as the two teams in the Eastern Conference vying for a spot in the NBA Finals.

Both teams are incredibly balanced on offense and defense. The Cavaliers, with their twin towers of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, struggle to score on defense, while Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland shoulder the scoring load. The Knicks, with elite perimeter defenders like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, rely on Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns to anchor their offense.

The Cavaliers had one of the best starts in NBA history last year but fell apart late in the season. The Knicks have finally added some much-needed depth, which could help them make a late-season run.

The Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks matchup could easily be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals, and it's hard to predict who will ultimately prevail on Christmas Day. It will be one of the most anticipated games on the entire NBA schedule.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets have developed into one of the most fascinating rivalries in basketball. Every matchup between the two teams seems to end in iconic fashion. Most recently, Nikola Jokic scored a 61-point triple-double, but the Timberwolves still prevailed in double overtime.

In fact, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who won all four of their last four games against the Denver Nuggets, seem to have found a formula to defeat the Nuggets. Jokic's team will surely seek revenge on Christmas Day, especially since they've had some highlights on Christmas Day, including Aaron Gordon's iconic dunk against the Phoenix Suns a few years ago.

Jokic has finished in the top two of the MVP voting in each of the past five seasons. He's undoubtedly the NBA's best player, but Anthony Edwards also has the potential to be the face of the league.

He led the Timberwolves to two consecutive Western Conference Finals. Despite this best playoff record in franchise history, the Minnesota Timberwolves are hungry for more.

Denver had a fantastic offseason, making it no easy task for them to repeat their victory over the Nuggets in the 2025-26 season. The teams traded Cam Johnson for Michael Porter Jr. and added Tim Hardaway, Bruce Brown, and Jonas Valanciunas, making their roster even deeper than it was before their 2023 championship run.

3. San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Holmgren has been considered a key cog in the Thunder's championship run. The slender 7-footer is a true unicorn. He effectively denies opponents' shots at the rim on defense, yet can knock down three-pointers and put the ball in the net on offense. Holmgren will forever be compared to fellow "unicorn" Victor Wimbanyama from San Antonio.

The Spurs star missed the All-Star break due to a blood clot, but he will return with a stronger roster. The Spurs just signed De'Aaron Fox to a lucrative salary and drafted Dylan Harper with the second overall pick.

Adding a core of Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephen Castle, the Spurs are poised to unleash a potent offensive surge in the 2025-26 season. However, the defending champion Spurs will present a formidable challenge. Fans eagerly await the clash between San Antonio and Oklahoma City, two teams of tall, talented big men.

4. Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Both the Rockets and Lakers will face off on opening night, but their meeting will be on Christmas Day. Alperen Sengong has blossomed into one of the NBA's best centers. Last year, after the Anthony Davis trade for Dončić, the five position was the Lakers' weakest position.

The Lakers added former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton during the offseason, and the Christmas Day game against the Rockets will be a good test to see if his addition is enough to offset the Lakers' lackluster interior. This will be James' 20th Christmas Day game in his career. Who knows, it might even be his last.

5. Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors

Although Klay Thompson isn't as good as he once was, his return to the Golden State Warriors and a prime-time matchup against his former team is still significant. A member of the Warriors' "Splash Brothers," Thompson was once one of the greatest three-point shooters in history.

Perhaps the biggest draw of this game is that it will be Cooper Flagg's first Christmas Day game. Flagg is one of the most promising rookies in recent years and is likely to become a regular on December 25th for years to come.

If the Mavericks can stay healthy, they can be a very dangerous team, but their health issues were a major concern last season. Hopefully, the oft-injured Davis can maintain his form in this prime-time matchup.

Other Key NBA Schedule Matches

In addition to the season opener and Christmas Day games, all MLK Day games and several key opening week matches have been scheduled and announced by the NBA.

October 22:

As a preview of the much-anticipated Christmas Day matchup, the Cavaliers will face the Knicks in their third game of the new season. Additionally, the Mavericks will face the Spurs on October 22nd, vying for the top two picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. The matchup between Flagg and Harper promises to be a signature rivalry, and the NBA is rapidly developing coverage. The game will air on ESPN.

October 23:

On October 23rd, ESPN will also broadcast two exciting primetime games. First, the Pacers will seek revenge for their Finals loss in a rematch against the Thunder. Of course, this game will be without Tyrese Haliburton, but Indiana, having come within one win of the championship, will undoubtedly be looking for a tough matchup. The Nuggets will also face the Warriors. Jokic is striving to break into the top 10 all-time, but Curry already is.

October 27th:

On October 27th, Peacock will broadcast two games exclusively. The Cavaliers and Knicks have been hailed as the Eastern Conference's two greatest threats. The Cavaliers will face another team vying for Eastern Conference supremacy: the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons, with a young and dynamic core, have transformed themselves from a bottom-feeder team two seasons ago to a legitimate threat last year. The Nuggets will also face the Timberwolves, meaning this matchup will be a focal point several times throughout the season.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19th):

Four games will be broadcast on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks game will be broadcast on Peacock. Both the Bucks and Hawks have a renewed look this season. The Milwaukee Bucks waived Damian Lillard but acquired Myles Turner; the Hawks added Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kennard, Asa Newell, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.

Three other games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be broadcast on Peacock Sports and NBC. The Thunder will face the Cavaliers in a potential NBA Finals preview; the Foxes will travel to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks in basketball's largest arena; and the Celtics will face the Detroit Pistons. Due to Tatum's injury, the Celtics' roster will be very different this season.

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