The NBA decided its marquee matchups for its opening night time and Christmas Day slates, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Friday.
Opening night time of the 2025-26 season options Kevin Durant making his Houston Rockets debut in opposition to Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder in a possible Western Convention finals preview. The Thunder are anticipated to obtain their championship rings earlier than the sport.
The Golden State Warriors may even go to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103 on opening night time final season.
There will probably be 5 Christmas Day video games this season. The matchups embrace:
– Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
– San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
– Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers
– Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors
– Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
The Cavaliers and Knicks are the one Japanese Convention groups enjoying on Christmas. Cleveland completed because the No. 1 seed within the East, whereas New York reached the Japanese Convention Closing earlier than dropping in seven video games to the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers and the Boston Celtics are notable omissions, probably because of the Achilles accidents suffered by Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum.
In the meantime within the Western Convention, there isn’t any scarcity of star energy. Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves tackle Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Each groups are acquainted to the vacation grind after enjoying on Christmas in 2024.
Cooper Flagg, the 2025 No. 1-overall decide, will make his Christmas debut when the Mavs face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Curry scored a game-high 38 factors in a 115-113 loss to the Lakers final Christmas.
Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season might find yourself being the one yr that does not embrace the French phenom within the vacation motion. The seven-foot-three centre will lead his San Antonio Spurs in opposition to the defending champion Thunder. Wembanyama completed with 42 factors, 18 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a 117-114 loss to the Knicks final Christmas.
