The NBA feels like it’s at the onset of a new era. The young Oklahoma City Thunder enter the 2025-2026 season as reigning champions, and they could be set for a dynastic run. NBA history is built off dynasties, but lately parity has ruled. The league has seen seven different champions in the last seven years. The Thunder are the team to beat entering the new season, and they’ll be all over national TV as the league’s broadcasting rights change hands.
NBA schedule 2025-26 release: All the leaks we know so far
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
NBC, Amazon, and ESPN will be the major broadcasting partners for the NBA going forward. The league has lined up some fantastic games for the new networks, and that will start on opening night when the Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets visit the Thunder to watch OKC get its championship rings. Later on in the night, fans will be treated to another matchup between LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
The NBA’s full 2025-2026 schedule will be released on Thursday. There’s already a steady drip of leaked games to build hype. Here’s every game that’s been reported for the 25-26 season so far. All times are Eastern.
Opening night, Tuesday, Oct. 21
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder, 7:30 p.m., NBC
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., NBC
Wednesday, Oct. 22
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, 7 p.m., ESPN
San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Thursday, Oct. 23
Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m., ESPN
Friday, Oct. 24
Boston Celtics at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m., Amazon Prime
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., Amazon Prime
Monday, Oct. 27
Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons, 7 p.m, Peacock
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m, Peacock
NBA Cup schedule (Oct. 31-Nov. 28)
Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas)
Read our full breakdown ranking this year’s Christmas day slate. Here are the five matchups:
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, noon, ABC/ESPN
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder, 2:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors, 5 p.m., ABC/ESPN
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers, 8 p.m., ABC/ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets, 10:30, ABC/ESPN
Thursday, Jan. 15 and Sunday, Jan. 18 (London games)
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Orlando Magic
Monday, Jan. 19 (MLK Day)
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks, 1 p.m., Peacock
Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers, 2:30 p.m., NBC
Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks, 5 p.m., Peacock
Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons, 8 p.m., NBC
We’ll update this post with more info as the schedule continues to leak.
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