NBA's Christmas Day 2025 opening lineup: Star-studded matches featuring Lakers, Warriors, Thunder, and Rockets highlighted
NBA Announces Exciting 2025-26 Regular Season Schedule
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has unveiled the schedule for the 2025-26 season, with two of the most anticipated days - opening night and Christmas Day - set to deliver a thrilling start to the campaign.
Opening Night Doubleheader
On October 21, 2025, the NBA regular season will kick off with a doubleheader. The first game will see the Houston Rockets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the Thunder set to raise their championship banner. This game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. The second game will feature the Golden State Warriors against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Christmas Day Spectacle
Christmas Day will showcase five exciting games, airing exclusively on ESPN and ABC. The day's action will begin with the Cleveland Cavaliers facing the New York Knicks at noon ET. This will be the only game featuring Eastern Conference teams on Christmas Day.
The San Antonio Spurs will then square off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by the Dallas Mavericks against the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers against the Houston Rockets, a matchup headlined by LeBron James versus Kevin Durant. The day's games will conclude with the Denver Nuggets playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Newcomers to the Christmas Schedule
The Rockets, Thunder, and Cavaliers will make their debut on the Christmas schedule for the 2025-26 season, joining the league's marquee teams and star players across major markets.
Key Player Moves
Kevin Durant will be playing for the new-look Houston Rockets on opening night. The first game between the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic's Lakers will be at the end of November as part of the NBA Cup portion of the schedule.
Unfortunately, Tyrese Haliburton is out for the season with an Achilles injury, causing the Pacers to be passed over for the Christmas schedule. The Boston Celtics, who have played on Christmas Day every year since 2016, are absent from the Christmas schedule due to Jayson Tatum's injury and a gap year plan.
Draft Picks in Action
Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in the draft, will play against each other on October 22. The highly anticipated matchup between Victor Wembanyama and the Oklahoma City Thunder will take place on Christmas Day.
This promising schedule promises to deliver an exciting NBA season filled with star-studded matchups and fresh talent. Stay tuned for more updates as the 2025-26 season approaches.
Fans of NBA basketball eagerly await the start of the 2025-26 season, marked by an opening night doubleheader featuring the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by the Golden State Warriors versus the Los Angeles Lakers. On Christmas Day, five games will be broadcasted, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knights, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets versus Minnesota Timberwolves showcasing star players such as LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and possibly Victor Wembanyama. The Rockets, Thunder, and Cavaliers will make their debut on the Christmas schedule, joining league stalwarts. Key player moves include Kevin Durant's move to the Houston Rockets and the highly-anticipated first meeting between Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, the No. 1 and No. 2 draft picks, on October 22. Despite Tyrese Haliburton's injury and Jayson Tatum's injury and gap year plan, the season promises to be captivating with fresh talent and exciting games.
