NBA's 2025-26 Television Schedule Showcases Games Involving Thunder, Knicks, Warriors, and Lakers for National Broadcasts
The NBA has officially revealed the schedule for the 2025-26 season, including the much-anticipated NBA Rivals Week. This exciting event will take place from January 20 to 24, featuring some of the league's most iconic teams.
During NBA Rivals Week, the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, and New York Knicks will square off in a series of highly anticipated matchups. The Thunder will also play one game at home during Rivals Week, against the Indiana Pacers.
One of the highlights of the week will be the Lakers visiting the Mavericks on Saturday, Jan. 24, marking one of two returns to Dallas this season for the Lakers and Luka Doncic. The final televised game during NBA Rivals Week will be this clash.
Golden State will play two games during Rivals Week, including one against the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 22. Interestingly, they will also play another road game on Jan. 24 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a new addition to the schedule.
New York will get one national TV game during Rivals Week, against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks are coming off their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000.
The Lakers and Warriors led the way with 39 and 36 nationally televised games, respectively, last season. This season, each of these four teams will play a total of 34 games on national TV.
The NBA Rivals Week games are scheduled as follows (all times Eastern Time):
- February 7, 2026, 8:30 p.m. – Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- February 8, 2026, 12:30 p.m. – New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics (Knicks game)
- February 21, 2026, 8:30 p.m. – Houston Rockets vs. New York Knicks
- February 28, 2026, 8:30 p.m. – Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors
- March 7, 2026, 8:30 p.m. – Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- March 8, 2026, 3:30 p.m. – New York Knicks vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- March 15, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Other relevant games involving these teams include the Lakers at Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 1, although the exact time is not specified. Several marquee matchups also occur on October 21, but those are not part of Rivals Week.
These times are part of marquee broadcast windows on ESPN, ABC, NBC Sports, and Peacock across the 2025-26 NBA season, with Rivals Week being a highlight of classic and emerging team rivalries. National TV games for the 2025-26 season will also be broadcasted on Amazon Prime.
In other news, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to their first championship in franchise history. LeBron James will begin his 22nd NBA season in Los Angeles, this time possibly sharing the court with Luka Doncic.
The Thunder will participate in two 2025 NBA Finals rematches during the regular season, including one against the Milwaukee Bucks. Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Brooklyn Nets are all tied for the fewest national TV games this upcoming NBA season - just two games each. Toronto and Washington's games will be on streaming services, meaning they will have zero games broadcasted on ESPN, ABC, or NBC.
Stay tuned for more updates on the 2025-26 NBA season!
- The NBA Rivals Week schedule features a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors on February 7, 2026, which will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC, NBC Sports, or Peacock.
- The New York Knicks will play against the Philadelphia 76ers during NBA Rivals Week, a game that will be televised nationally.
- Interestingly, the Golden State Warriors will have two games during the Rivals Week, one against the Dallas Mavericks on January 22 and another against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 24.
- During the 2025-26 NBA season, the NBA Rivals Week will highlight classic and emerging team rivalries, such as the matchup between the Lakers and the Warriors, which led the way with numerous nationally televised games last season.
