I’ll admit I had my doubts the NBA could do it again. Ultimately, I knew my favorite league would come through, and guess what? It did. The NBA released another 82-game regular-season schedule for all 30 teams, proving the doubters wrong. The scheduling is done, the flights and hotels are getting booked, and we’re circling the physical paper calendar once again for the big games we want to see.
The in-season tournament, now known as the Emirates NBA Cup, will begin Nov. 12. Remember to get your eyes checked before they once again throw down those special court designs. As for now, we have 35 games on the schedule I’m looking forward to the most, so I ask that you take note of these games! (Inevitably, I probably left a good matchup or two off this list. I promise I left it out because I hate your favorite team. Still, toss the games you’re most looking forward to watching in the comments.)
(Editor’s note: All times Eastern; national TV info listed when applicable but subject to change.)
The spicy matchups
First Western Conference finals rematch: Dallas Mavericks at Minnesota Timberwolves, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29, TNT
This wasn’t quite the conference finals we thought we were getting when the Mavericks returned to that round for the first time since 2021 and the Wolves did so for the first time since 2004 (!). But we still saw some pretty competitive games and epic performances to begin this series. That was before Luka Dončić put the Wolves away in an absurd Game 5 performance. Anthony Edwards and company will get their first chance at revenge in this one, and these two teams should be vying for the Western crown once again. Along with a bunch of other teams in the loaded conference.
First Eastern Conference finals rematch: Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. Oct. 30, TNT
This wasn’t exactly a great series, with the Celtics busting out the brooms on the Pacers. Three of those four games were pretty close, though. The Pacers hopefully get a fully healthy squad in this matchup, and they get to prove they weren’t some random conference finals appearance fluke like the Hawks back in 2021. The Pacers are ahead of schedule, and they get a full training camp with Pascal Siakam to get everybody on the same page. If they take this game, we could see that as a real confidence boost against the defending champs.
Sixers visit New York: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks, 7 p.m. Feb. 26, ESPN
The 76ers and the Knicks had a hate-fueled first-round matchup this past postseason. I don’t know if it was full of hatred for the Knicks and the Sixers players, necessarily. But I know Sixers Twitter hated the Knicks in this one. Also, the Knicks’ Twitter base has grown to truly despise Joel Embiid. Knicks fans I know were rooting for him to do poorly for Team USA while hoping it won the gold. It’s running that deep. The two teams meet Nov. 12 and Jan. 15 in Philly, but this will be the renewal of a fun rivalry in the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Indiana visits New York: Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25, ESPN
The other side of the Knicks rivalry in the East comes from their second-round series against the Pacers. Indiana won a Game 7 at MSG against a battered New York squad. The Knicks want to show off their Nova Knicks against the Pacers, who also will be healthy during this rematch (we hope). The Knicks have one of the most fascinating rosters and rotations in the league after acquiring Mikal Bridges. They want to show the Pacers they own them, and that all of those Reggie Miller highlights and trash talk from the past are meaningless.
NBA Finals rematch: Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25, ABC
About half of the 2024 NBA Finals matchup was competitive, and the Celtics did what they accomplished all season long — dominance en route to a championship. Now, the Mavericks get a chance alongside Klay Thompson alongside Dončić and Kyrie Irving. Dallas gets to measure back up against Boston, and the Celtics get to prove once again nobody can handle them when they’re clicking. This should be a very fun rematch, and the two teams face off again in Boston a couple weeks later (Feb. 6).
First TiredGate: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. Nov. 1, ESPN
All of the excuses for the Denver Nuggets, following them blowing a 3-2 series lead and a Game 7 at home against the Wolves, involved how tired they must have been during their failed championship defense. The Nuggets completely collapsed as the Wolves found their way to the third round of the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history. Now, this Nuggets squad is without Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and depth could be even worse for them if the young guys don’t step up. Meanwhile, the Wolves are out to prove their ascension last season wasn’t a fluke and they can be even better. Minnesota and Denver usually have some pretty fun battles.
Let’s Try This Again: Washington Wizards at Golden State Warriors, 8:30 p.m. Jan. 18
Last year, I greatly anticipated the return of Jordan Poole to the Bay Area in a battle with the Warriors and Draymond Green. There are rumors I even predicted Poole would lead the league in scoring, but we don’t need to investigate those. Poole had 25 points on 21 shots in an 11-point loss at Golden State. Maybe this time it can be a better performance? Maybe I’ll predict Poole to lead the league in scoring for the rest of my life until he does it? Maybe Green’s random acts of aggression will happen in this game again?
Familiar faces in new places
Paul George returns to LA: Philadelphia 76ers at LA Clippers, 10 p.m. Nov. 6, ESPN
They wouldn’t give him the full max. Now, George is going to return to try to give the Clippers hell. George spent five seasons with the Clippers, but they never quite got it right or were fully healthy enough to get it right to make a run at a title. They had one courtesy appearance in the conference finals, but injuries meant they weren’t really going to win. He’s going to try to reverse the 76ers’ fortunes of not being able to compete for a title so far. I’m expecting a good reception for PG from the new Intuit Dome. Hopefully Kawhi Leonard is healthy enough to play against him that night.
It’s going to take some time getting used to seeing Klay Thompson in a Mavericks uniform, especially when he plays against the Warriors. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
Klay Thompson returns to the Bay: Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. Nov. 12, TNT
This is going to be emotional. It still seems wild to think about Thompson in a non-Warriors uniform. He’s a Maverick now, and we’re going to see how he manages his emotions in a return to the Chase Center. He won four rings with the Warriors, and they loved him as much as they loved anybody. The fans will go nuts, and the Warriors will give him a fantastic return. If we’re lucky, he and Stephen Curry will both go for 10-plus 3-pointers in the same game. This is going to be a big return. Don’t miss it.
Chris Paul returns to the Bay: San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. April 9
I’m serious! You can dismiss this because Paul only played one season with the Warriors, they didn’t make the playoffs and he missed 24 games. But you’re missing the underlying subtext of this return. When we dig beneath the surface, we get to unearth the comfort zone for Paul and the Warriors. They love to hate each other! The Warriors never liked him when he was on the Clippers and Rockets. He’s hated the Warriors for keeping him from competing for a title time after time. They get to go back to openly being enemies. This is the sweet spot of hatred and pettiness.
#FireBud returns to Milwaukee: Phoenix Suns at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. April 1
Remember Mike Budenholzer coaching the Bucks? He coached them to a championship in 2021 and often survived rumors and online petitions for Milwaukee to fire him. Eventually, he got the boot. He took a year, watched Milwaukee go through two coaches in one season and now returns at the helm of the underperforming Suns. If he can get them on the same page, they’ll be crazy dangerous. Milwaukee will give Bud a great ovation in this one.
DeMar DeRozan returns to Chicago: Sacramento Kings at Chicago Bulls, 3:30 p.m. Jan. 12
I don’t think this is going to be an emotional return. DeRozan spent three seasons with the Bulls, played excellent individual basketball and constantly had the task of trying to drag the franchise to victories. The Bulls mostly struggled due to injuries while DeRozan only missed 17 games in three seasons. They also had just one playoff appearance. I’d still expect Bulls fans to be appreciative of the heroics he often displayed in fourth quarters. This will probably be an ugly game.
Dejounte Murray returns to Atlanta: New Orleans Pelicans at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2
Just two seasons for Dejounte Murray in Atlanta, and they were weird, disappointing ones. He was there to help provide defense and turn the Hawks back into the team that made the conference finals in 2021. They never came close to that, but did finish one of the seasons at 41-41. And there was a little bit of a spirited playoff series against Boston two years ago. Murray quickly got dealt because he wasn’t the solution they wanted for what they gave up. The Hawks are still searching for answers, but I can’t imagine there is ill will on either side. Hawks fans will give him a solid ovation.
Mikal Bridges returns to Brooklyn: New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21, TNT
This might be the one time a tanking Nets team is relevant this season, outside of Cam Thomas trying to go for 50 points every night. And I’m not even sure this will be much of a reunion, nor will it be much of a game. The Nets are looking to be bad. The Knicks are looking to be great. And this will be a blowout. It’s also just a short ride across town to get from Madison Square Garden to the Barclays Center, so it’s not some big journey back.
Russell Westbrook returns to L.A.: Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. Nov. 23, NBATV
Ha! You thought I was going to highlight his return to the Clippers since that’s where he last played and revived his career in a complementary role? You fools! Let’s get messier with this one. I’m more interested in Westbrook adding the extra layer of the Nuggets and Lakers battling it out. The Lakers believing they’re so close to solving the problems that Denver presents and Denver still handling business against them constantly.
James Wiseman returns to the Bay: Indiana Pacers at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. Dec. 23 NBATV
I’m just making sure you’re still paying attention with this one. Did you scroll this far down? Keep going! There’s good stuff below! Also, did you remember Wiseman signed with the Pacers? I put that up there with trying to remember that Tobias Harris is back with the Detroit Pistons.
Fun team showdowns
Western titans: Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. Dec. 31, NBATV
This should be an extremely fun and intriguing matchup, like we saw last season. This is the first of four matchups between the teams. You have two of the biggest young stars facing off in Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And they pretty much have the exact same role for their respective teams.
You have a loaded Thunder team that is mostly based on perimeter-oriented flexibility, but it did bring in Isaiah Hartenstein to beef up the interior. And had I not opted for the Wiseman return joke above, he probably makes the list for return games when he goes back to New York.
The Wolves are built on having size for the interior surrounding their star guard. This matchup is a fun juxtaposition of different ways to build out a hopeful contender.
Knicks-Celtics games should be an event, led by stars such as Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown. (Bob DeChiara / USA Today)
Eastern titans: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22, TNT
We thought we were getting this in the Eastern Conference finals in May. Then the Pacers decided to ruin that. This Celtics team is so good and so dominant, and it has so much firepower on the perimeter. The Knicks have incredible perimeter defenders and a lot of potential scoring with their team chemistry. Maybe this is a preview of the battle for the East when we get to the postseason. The Knicks want to prove they can win the conference and contend for the title. The Celtics want to prove nobody can compete with them.
NorCal supremacy: Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m. Jan. 22, ESPN
Is this still a thing? I kind of feel like it’s a thing. I chose the Kings for the home team in this one because I love a road opponent trying to prevent the beam getting lit, but note that Sacramento visits Golden State two weeks before on Jan. 5. If the Kings win at home, I love the pageantry of lighting the beam. The Kings and Warriors have had some fun battles in the last two seasons. The Kings seem to be on their way up while the Warriors are battling to not be on their way out. You get Curry and De’Aaron Fox. You get Green and Domantas Sabonis. If Kings fans really want to troll Warriors fans, they can say Sacramento is part of the Bay Area. There’s a lot that can happen.
Florida supremacy: Orlando Magic at Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23
Speaking of one team on the way up and one team on the way down, look at this fun matchup. Orlando had a brilliant 2023-24 season and is looking to capitalize on it and build more. The Heat had an extremely disappointing season in which Jimmy Butler wasn’t around for the playoffs and #HeatCulture got questioned for the first time in a long time. Would you want to win Florida if you’re in a battle for it? Probably not. But it’s fun to say you’re the best basketball team in the state.
This is still fun: New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies, 5 p.m. Nov. 29, NBATV
I still believe in the Pelicans and the Grizzlies. I still believe in Ja Morant and Zion Williamson. Both teams have a great opportunity to make the West feel uncomfortable playing against them. The Pelicans had a great season that was cut short by Williamson’s health failing them in the last moment. The Grizzlies had a throwaway season because of Morant’s suspension and injury. We should get a lot of fireworks in this one, and it’s always fun to see the Memphis crowd go nuts.
Play-In positioning? Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26
We’ve seen some fun battling already between Victor Wembanyama and Alperen Şengün. The Rockets and the Spurs have a lot of good, budding talent on their rosters. The Spurs want to prove they can make the leap to Play-In worthy in their second season with Wembanyama. The Rockets want to prove last year wasn’t a fluke and they’re ready to make the postseason, and not just the Play-In. You have Chris Paul going against his old Rockets franchise. Give me all four games of this matchup this season. We’ll see three of them in the first two weeks.
Finals preview? Boston Celtics at Oklahoma City Thunder, 3:30 p.m. Jan. 5
It could be! I firmly believe the Thunder made the Alex Caruso trade to be more like the defending champion Celtics. They brought in Hartenstein to give them rebounding and interior presence. And it makes them the total package in trying to win the West and take the crown from Boston. The Celtics are unquestionably the kings of the East, and it’ll be really tough to take them down. They should be back in the finals if they’re healthy or even relatively healthy. Both times we get this matchup this year, we should see incendiary basketball.
Fun player showdowns for us
LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. Dec. 25, ABC
We just saw how fun it is for them to be on the same team. Now, the gold-medal-winning Olympians are back to being opponents, and we don’t have many of these left. I know that sentiment sounds incredibly corny. That’s because it is! But that doesn’t make it any less true. Curry and James have played against each other 23 times in the regular season and 28 times in the playoffs. We’ll get another four times this season, and we should relish all of them.
Nikola Jokić vs. Joel Embiid: Denver Nuggets at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31, ESPN
I felt like I had to put the Philadelphia home game down because Embiid doesn’t play in the Denver games (this season’s is Jan. 21, by the way). The Joker and Embiid have played eight times in their careers, and six of them came in Philly. The two games in Denver happened in 2016 and 2019. Embiid has put up some monster games against Jokić recently with 41 and 47 points, respectively, in the last two games. And I’d love to see Embiid try to do that in Denver. We just have to take what we can get when we can get these two kaijus on the court.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren: San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m. Oct. 30, ESPN
Get ready for a lot of looking-forward-to-Wemby matchups. This one is pretty obvious because it feels like Wembanyama and Holmgren want to destroy each other on the court. They’ve had some big plays against each other. They have comic book-like wingspans and reaches. Wemby had a couple of impressive games against Holmgren last season. Holmgren went 2-1 against Wemby. Let’s hope the Spurs can keep up with the Thunder a bit more in their matchups so we can see these two really go at it in the fourth quarter.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Joel Embiid: San Antonio Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. Dec. 23, NBATV
Wembanyama and Embiid played once last season. Embiid dropped 70 on the Spurs. Wembanyama dropped 33 in that game, but Embiid more than doubled it. Zach Collins caught a lot of those 70 points, but Wembanyama still couldn’t help enough or stop Embiid enough from that historic showdown. We’ll see this time around if the second-year phenom can have better luck or the Spurs can have a better plan against the former MVP.
Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić battle for a rebound last season. (Scott Wachter / USA Today)
Victor Wembanyama vs. Nikola Jokić: San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m. Jan. 3
Wembanyama went 1-3 against the Nuggets last season while averaging 24 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 4.3 assists. He also shot just 37.6 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from deep in those four games. Jokić averaged a ridiculous (even for him) 33.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and eight assists with a 66.4 percent true shooting mark. The final game of the year between the two had the Spurs winning behind a monster performance from Wembanyama, and it ultimately kept the Nuggets from getting the No. 1 seed.
Anthony Davis vs. Domantas Sabonis: Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. Oct. 26, NBATV
This is a reminder that Davis has never won an NBA game against Sabonis. It’s one of the weirdest streaks out there. Sabonis is 10-0 against Davis, dating to when Sabonis was on OKC and Davis was still in New Orleans. In four of those 10 games, Davis has made fewer than 40 percent of his shots, including the last three matchups. The Kings and the Lakers are already battling for positioning in the West, and they have a bit of a history against each other. This adds extra spice to these games.
Rookie showdowns
Vive la France: Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28
We’ve never had two French players go in the first two picks in the draft … until 2024! Zaccharie Risacher was the first pick by the Hawks, and Alex Sarr was the second pick by the Wizards. They’ll get to face off for the first of four times pretty earlier in the season.
UConn reunion: Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m. Nov. 7
Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle are coming off an NCAA championship victory together. Now? They’re mortal enemies! Or just on different teams! Either way, the fourth pick in the draft (Castle) will face his former teammate, the seventh pick in the draft (Clingan), and we may see Dan Hurley there if the Lakers Huskies aren’t playing that night.
Kentucky reunion: Houston Rockets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. Nov. 26
Remember that Wildcats backcourt of Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard? If you didn’t start watching the NCAA Tournament until the second round, then you probably don’t. Both guys were picked in the top eight in the draft, and they’re both going to be backups for their respective teams this season unless injuries hit. Hopefully we’ll get a fun moment of Sheppard and Dillingham running their respective second units with some fireworks on display.
Family affair: Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. Dec. 3
Did you know OKC’s Jalen Williams has a brother who was drafted 10th by the Jazz? Meet Cody Williams! He was one of my favorite prospects in the draft and, when these teams have a showdown, we’ll likely get some good court time between the two. Sure, it will probably be a rout with how good the Thunder are, but that’s not the point. We want to see family moments like it’s a “Fast and the Furious” movie!
G League Ignite Memorial: Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons, 7 p.m. Nov. 18
The G League Ignite was an experiment that produced some pretty solid pros but unfortunately has been sent to a farm up north due to the ever-changing landscape of college sports in the NIL era. Two of the last prospects to play for Ignite were teammates Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland. In this matchup, their first of the season, Holland and Buzelis will be the final two lottery picks from the Ignite team to have a battle on the court.
NCAA title game reunion: Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers, 9 p.m. Nov. 10
Clingan has more than just his reunion with Castle to consider. The 2024 NCAA championship game involved him battling even bigger man Zach Edey from Purdue, who was picked ninth in the draft by the Grizzlies. These two rather large rookies will get a chance to battle in the paint once again. Will either try to fit into the modern NBA and shoot some jumpers? Tune in to find out!
(Top photo of Anthony Edwards and Luka Dončić: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)