the The full 2024-25 NBA season schedule was released on Thursday.Just two months before the tournament kicks off. Opening Night is scheduled for October 22, and will see defending champion Boston Celtics take on old rivals New York Knicks, as well as the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
As we await what should be another exciting season, here are 10 games we’re looking forward to. To that end, we’ve laid out some ground rules:
- No team can participate more than twice.
- With the exception of the first return leg of the finals, none of the matches can be played after Christmas.
- Only one game per night
October 22: New York Knicks vs. Celtics
This should be fairly obvious. First, it’s the first game of the season, which is always a major event no matter which team is playing. This year’s opener will be a bigger-than-usual affair, as the Boston Celtics celebrate their night in the ring against the New York Knicks — not just a historical rival, but one of the main threats to their throne.
October 23: Bucks vs. Sixers
The 2023-24 season ended early for both the Milwaukee Bucks and Sixers, who were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs due to injuries. Both teams are expected to bounce back and compete for a title, and this season opener will be a great test. Plus, we’ll see another Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Joel Embiid duel and Paul George make his Sixers debut.
The Grizzlies and Rockets are two of the most interesting teams heading into the season. Ja Morant returns to the Grizzlies, who could make a big splash in the Western Conference if he stays fit. Meanwhile, the Rockets will be hoping to do the same if their youngsters continue to show promise. This opening-week matchup will be an early indicator of where both teams stand.
Victor Wembanyama ended up winning last season’s Rookie of the Year award, but the competition has been real for a while thanks to Chet Holmgren’s excellent season. When the Spurs travel to Oklahoma City on Oct. 30, two of the league’s best young players will meet for the first time this new season, and it should be a lot of fun.
November 1: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves
Last season’s thrilling playoff semifinal series between the two teams was filled with momentum swings, until the Timberwolves stunned the defending champions with a 20-point win in the second half of Game 7. This will be the first rematch between the teams, and the Denver Nuggets are expected to come into the game with extra motivation.
Klay Thompson’s departure from the Warriors after 13 years with the organization was ultimately no surprise by the time it happened. However, it will be strange to see him in a new jersey this season. His first trip to the Bay Area with the Warriors is sure to be an emotional night.
November 15: Lakers vs. Spurs
Wembanyama had to have a second game on the roster, so why not make it the Spurs’ first against the Lakers? Wembanyama averaged 23.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, five assists, 3.3 steals and 4.3 blocks against LeBron James and Co. last season, and he’ll be ready for this one. Especially since it’s the first time James and Anthony Davis will face off since Team USA beat France in Paris to win the gold medal.
November 22: Pacers vs. Bucks
There aren’t many real rivalries left in the NBA, but the Pacers-Bucks rivalry certainly qualifies. Between the championship, regular season, and playoffs, the two teams met 11 times last season, with plenty of dramatic moments along the way. It’s clear these two teams don’t like each other, and their first meeting of the season could be filled with fireworks.
December 25: Lakers vs. Warriors
We finally got to see LeBron James and Steph Curry compete as teammates at the Paris Olympics, where they put on a show to win the gold medal for Team USA. Now, they’re back in action, and they’ll meet on Christmas Day this season. It’s a shame we may not have many more matches left between two of the greatest players not just of this generation, but of all time. We should enjoy them while we can.
January 25: Boston Celtics vs. Mavericks
Again, this is obvious. It’s unfortunate that we’ll have to wait until late January for the first Finals rematch of the season, but the bright side is that this means Kristaps Porzingis is healthy. Most of the starters from both teams are still there, along with some new faces, most notably Klay Thompson.
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