The expanded opening slate gets underway at 3:00 pm Eastern time with the Boston Celtics visiting the Detroit Pistons. The afternoon fixture represents a new addition to the league’s schedule, which typically tips off with its evening games. In the marquee matchups of the day, the defending champion New York Knicks host a new-look Philadelphia 76ers squad at 7:00 pm ET, while the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 pm ET in a rematch of the previous season’s Western Conference finals. All three opening day games will air on NBC.
Historic Opening Day Triple-Header Launches 2026-27 Season
Star Debuts and Opening Week Marquee Matchups
Opening week continues with nationally televised games across multiple networks on the second, third, and fourth days of the season. On Wednesday, October 21, the Minnesota Timberwolves face the Miami Heat at 7:30 pm ET, followed by the Golden State Warriors hosting the Los Angeles Lakers at 10:00 pm ET. Both Wednesday and Thursday games will be broadcast on ESPN.
On Thursday, October 22, the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:00 pm ET, and the Denver Nuggets travel to play the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9:30 pm ET. These games mark the first home games of the season for both the Sixers and the Thunder. Friday, October 23, features a pair of divisional rivalries airing on Amazon Prime Video, with the New York Knicks playing the Boston Celtics at 7:00 pm ET and the Houston Rockets facing the San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 pm ET.
Christmas Day Slate Highlights Finals Rematch and Warriors Streak
The NBA also unveiled its Christmas Day schedule, ensuring that December 25 will feature five games for the 19th consecutive year, with ABC and ESPN televising every matchup.
* San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks (12:00 pm ET) – A rematch of the 2026 NBA Finals featuring Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs against Jalen Brunson and the Knicks. * Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (2:30 pm ET) – Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat squaring off against Jayson Tatum and the Celtics. * Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers (5:00 pm ET) – LeBron James returns to Los Angeles for the Sixers’ only road game against the Lakers in the 2026-27 season. * Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves (8:00 pm ET) – A divisional showdown featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves. * Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (10:30 pm ET) – Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets visiting Stephen Curry and the Warriors.
International Games Set for Paris and Manchester
Beyond the domestic schedule, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will travel to Europe in January 2027. The team is scheduled to play two games against the New Orleans Pelicans, visiting the Accor Arena in Paris on January 14 and heading to the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on January 17 for the first-ever NBA game at that venue, according to Skysports.com and Sports.yahoo.com. The NBA Cup schedule is slated for announcement on Wednesday, with the full regular season schedule following on Thursday.
