2025-26 NBA Schedule Release: Must-See Matchups from Lakers vs Mavericks to Knicks vs Thunder

The full NBA schedule has been released, and it features several anticipated contests, ranging from rivalry games to potential playoff previews.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (L) touches hands with teammate forward LeBron James during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles on Feb. 10, 2025. Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo

After releasing the schedule for marquee nights like NBA Opening Night and the Christmas Day schedule in recent days, the NBA finally released its full 2025-26 schedule on Thursday.

The season is a little over two months away, beginning on Oct. 21, and it will run through April 12, 2026.

While the marquee nights, which also include the NBA Cup contests, the MLK Day slate, and the NBA Global Games, feature some of the best teams and brightest stars battling it out, there are several other must-see matchups on other days. These include rivalry games, reunion contests with former players, playoff rematches, and more.

Here are the top games from the release of the full NBA schedule that fall outside of the tentpole events on the 2025-26 NBA calendar.

Oct 22: San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks

There was no debate over who would go first in the 2025 NBA Draft, but there was discourse over who would be taken second. Well, those top two picks will meet in their very first NBA games as No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, will see his Mavs host No. 2 pick, Dylan Harper, and the Spurs.

If that wasn’t enough, fans will also be treated to a Victor Wembanyama versus Anthony Davis matchup, while San Antonio fans will get to see the Wemby and De’Aaron Fox pairing, after the two played just five games together a year ago.

Nov 24: Houston Rockets at Phoenix Suns

The NBA cleverly has the first Rockets vs. Suns contest of the season taking place in Phoenix, which will give Phoenicians a chance to “welcome” Durant back to the city. That welcome is likely to consist of a showering of boos, which has often been the case in the many times Durant has left one team and then returned to that city while playing for another team.

This game will also see Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks facing their former squad, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the latter mixed it up with some of his former teammates.

Nov 28: Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers

While Durant is sure to be booed in his reunion game, the same likely can’t be said for Anthony Davis as he returns to Los Angeles. He was injured when the Mavs played in L.A. last season, following his trade to Dallas, and he never wanted to leave the Lakers, but they had a Godfather offer they couldn’t refuse.

This game will also see Luka Doncic get to torch his former squad, again, as in his two games versus the Mavs last year, he had 45 points in one and a triple-double in the other.

Feb 4: Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Clippers

Since the 2022-23 season, the Cavaliers have the most regular-season wins (163) without an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, while the Clippers have the most wins (145) without a Western Conference Finals appearance. These teams have been competitive in the regular season, but often, due to untimely injuries, haven’t been true contenders in the postseason.

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 13, 2025. Jason Miller/Getty Images

Cleveland swung a trade for Lonzo Ball in the offseason, while L.A. added Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, and Brook Lopez. We’ll see if these transactions can finally allow one or both of these teams to get over the playoff hump.

Feb 5: Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers

This game, being a must-see, contains a major prognostication as it would require LeBron James to be an ironman up until this point. That’s because this will be the 50^th game of the season for the Lakers, and James needs to play 50 games to pass Robert Parish for the most games played in NBA history.

Chances are, the soon-to-be 41-year-old will take off some contests before this, thus pushing his 50^th game to later in the year. But settling for James, Doncic, Joel Embiid, and Paul George all on the same court isn’t a bad consolation.

March 1: Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets

The Wolves and Nuggets will meet three times by Christmas, but this late-season matchup would ensure that Denver has its rhythm with all of its new players, including Cameron Johnson.

Few teams have manhandled Nikola Jokic like Minnesota has, as the Wolves enter the season with six straight wins over Denver. Their average margin of victory is 17.7 points over this stretch, and this game could have major seeding ramifications. If OKC fails to get back to the NBA Finals, it would surprise no one if the West’s representative was one of these two teams.

March 4: Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks

As the reigning champs, OKC is the favorite to win the 2026 NBA Finals. Meanwhile, with injuries and turnover affecting teams like the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Boston Celtics, it is the New York Knicks who are favored to represent the East in the Finals. This could be a 2026 NBA Finals preview that’s filled with drama and is fitting to take place close to Broadway.