The NBA calendar was recently released, and the big-time matchups are abundant. From opening night to Christmas day to the last game of the regular season, this year’s NBA is set to be as entertaining as ever. So, which days are packed full of NBA action? Which days require a clear calendar and working television? Which days will provide the best NBA moments of each month?
October 22nd (Opening Night)
New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
Opening night is one of the most anticipated days on the NBA calendar. It marks the end of the NBA’s hibernation and the beginning of the conquest for gold. It finally gives the sports talk shows something to debate, and provides a sneak peek at what will consume the next seven months of the NBA fan’s life. But most importantly, opening night means that basketball is back.
The first matchup of the upcoming season’s opening night is between possibly the best two teams in the Eastern Conference: the Celtics and the Knicks. The game represents the Celtics’ first step to defending their throne and the Knicks’ first chance to send a Mikal Bridges-size warning to the league. The second game features the JJ Redick and LeBron James-led Lakers against the Anthony Edwards-led Timberwolves, a mix of new faces, young talent, and proven success that should create fireworks.
November 6th
Golden State Warriors @ Boston Celtics
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Denver Nuggets
Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Clippers
Sometimes, there is no rhyme or reason why a certain day is filled with can’t-miss NBA action- use this random Wednesday night in November as an example. Adam Silver decided that 15 days into the season, he would provide the fans with a night of non-stop entertainment.
Firstly, the Warriors and Stephen Curry travel to Boston- a matchup that guarantees dramatic headlines. Next, the Thunder and the Nuggets meet in a matchup between two of the Western Conference’s premier teams; the game should answer any questions surrounding the Thunder’s legitimacy as favorites in the West. Then, Paul George returns to the Clippers for the first time and has a chance to show Steve Ballmer what he missed out on.
November 6 sees 24 NBA teams take the court, including the league’s biggest stars like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Curry, and so many others. A suggestion: take a break from tracking the presidential election for just a few hours and enjoy some hoops.
December 25th (NBA Christmas)
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Dallas Mavericks
Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers @ Golden State Warriors
Another highlight of the NBA season is Christmas Day. Although the NFL has decided they would like to steal Christmas, opening gifts and watching basketball has become a tradition of the holidays. On the 25th, NBA action starts at noon and goes on all day without stopping; it’s a basketball marathon consisting of the best teams in the world.
This year, NBA Christmas features a Western Conference Finals rematch between the Timberwolves and the Mavericks, a Northeast war between Philadelphia and Boston, a battle of goats between the Lakers and the Warriors, and much more. Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, and even Nikola Jokic will take the stage on Christmas Day- it’s really just an all-Olympics team showcase. Ten of Team USA’s gold medal winners will take the Christmas stage in what will be an unprecedented day of superstardom and elite basketball.
January 29th
Denver Nuggets @ New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Phoenix Suns
January is usually when the NBA season starts to feel like it is dragging on; pre-season anticipation has faded, the playoffs seem lightyears away, and even the trade deadline and all-star break aren’t for another month. However, the exciting matchups don’t stop.
January 29, another random NBA Wednesday, sees Nikola Jokic walking into Madison Square Garden, the Thunder and Warriors meeting in a battle of the past and the present, a playoffs rematch of the Timberwolves and the Suns, and several other noteworthy games. After all of the Olympic press this summer, the most interesting matchup might be the rematch of Anthony Edwards and his idol, Kevin Durant. The game will help answer whether Edwards can continue his streak of success against the legendary Durant.
February 20th
Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers
Los Angeles Clippers @ Milwaukee Bucks
Phoenix Suns @ San Antonio Spurs
February is an exciting time in the NBA World. The trade deadline is February 8, all-star weekend is a week later, and all games increase in intensity as wins become more important. February represents the beginning of the end of the regular season and is when teams are preparing for their playoff push, so big-time matchups shouldn’t be missed.
February 20 features another battle between the 76ers and the Celtics, Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers traveling to face Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, and most importantly, the Suns and Spurs facing off at the University of Texas. So many storylines surround this game, the biggest being Kevin Durant returning to play at his alma mater. There will be an insane amount of energy surrounding this Western Conference battle, and the college atmosphere will provide a fresh spark that will separate this game from the rest. The question is, will Victor Wembanyama be a consensus top-ten player in the NBA by that point?
March 12th
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Boston Celtics
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets
Dallas Mavericks @ San Antonio Spurs
While college basketball’s postseason reigns supreme throughout March, there is madness in the NBA as well. March is the time when nothing other than winning matters, and teams are desperately fighting to position themselves above their conference peers. Ten teams go home early in April, so winning is the only option.
The two final favorites in the NBA right now are the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are king of the league and stand alone at the top, but the Thunder are its ascending prince, rapidly closing the gap. So, a March matchup between these two teams will be essential to determine the pecking order of the league entering the playoffs and will be as intense as a regular season game can get. Also on March 12, the Timberwolves and Nuggets square off to settle their feud from last season’s playoffs, and the Mavericks and Spurs face off to name a champion of Texas- Luka Doncic versus Victor Wembanyama for the throne.
April 13th (Last Day of Regular Season)
Indiana Pacers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Phoenix Suns @ Sacramento Kings
Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors
Much like opening night, the last day of the NBA regular season is highly anticipated. All 30 teams will play in a five-hour stretch that can be key in deciding the eventual NBA champion. In a league with so many talented teams, the difference between making or missing the playoffs may come down to this day.
The Pacers and Cavaliers are two teams projected to compete for a top-four seed in the East, and this last game may be important. Will either team be able to secure a home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs? Can one of these teams slip into the play-in with a loss? In the grand scheme of things, one game may not seem important, but on April 13, seasons can be made or lost. Similarly, the Suns and Kings may be playing to decide their own fates. The West is uber-competitive, and just last year, the fourth and seventh seeds were separated by just two games. If the Suns want to avoid yet another postseason disaster, trying to obtain a top-four seed might be advantageous. The Clippers and Warriors matchup may be under a different setting, as both teams will likely be fighting to make the play-in. This game very well might be a play-in into the play-in, with the loser being sent home early. For these teams, April 13 may be the most important day of the regular season.
With so many teams aiming to make the playoffs, the regular season will be as crucial as ever. Load management may no longer be an option because it might result in not even making the play-in. Enjoy your last few moments of relaxation because the relentless NBA season is fast approaching.
