2025-26 season NBA schedule highlights appear frequently, superstar showdowns and return battles attract attention

On August 15, the NBA officially announced the schedule of each team for the 2025-26 season, bringing an advance notice about the basketball feast to the majority of fans. Currently, each team has identified 80 of its 82 games, and earlier this week, the opening week, holiday events and NBA Cup group stage schedules were first announced, bringing fans' expectations for the new season.

Judging from the number of live broadcasts in the United States in the new season, the Thunder, Warriors, Lakers and Knicks tied for first place in 34 games, becoming the most popular team in the new season. The Timberwolves and Rockets followed closely with 28 games, with the Nuggets 26 games, the Celtics 25 games, the Cavaliers 24 games, and the Mavericks 23 games. Each team also has its own highlights and strengths. In the regular season, there are two "return battles" that are particularly eye-catching. On November 25, Kevin Durant will return to Phoenix for the first time as a Rockets player, which will surely arouse many emotions from Suns fans. On November 29, Anthony Davis will also return to Los Angeles. The Mavericks will challenge the Lakers away in the NBA Cup group stage. His swap deal with Doncic shocked the entire league that year, and this return will undoubtedly become the focus of the field. The Lakers and Mavericks have three more matches this season, with each game likely sparks in Dallas on January 25, Los Angeles on February 13 and Dallas on April 6.

On February 2, 2026, ABC will broadcast the showdown between the Lakers and the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. On this day last year, the Lakers played against the Knicks away. Shortly after the game, Doncic's deal was officially reached. The interweaving of history and reality made the game full of story. The schedule of the defending champion Thunder is also exciting. Opening Day On October 22, Durant’s Rockets will visit Oklahoma City to witness the Thunder’s ring presentation ceremony, and the Rockets will also come to Oklahoma City again on February 8, and the Thunder will go away for the only time on January 16. The Thunder also had multiple encounters with last season's Western Conference Finals rival Timberwolves, November 27 and March 16 at Oscar City, December 20 and January 30 in Minnesota, each game could be a major test of both sides' strength.

Last season's MVP, Thunder star Alexander and Nuggets' three-time MVP Jokic all went in February 2026 and later, adding more highlights to their competition for this season's MVP awards later in the season. The Nuggets will be away to Oklahoma City on February 28 and March 10, while the Thunder will travel to Denver on February 2 and April 11. In addition, the Lakers and the Thunder will face two short matches in Oklahoma City on April 3 and Los Angeles on April 8, which is also worth looking forward to.

The Thunder will also face the Eastern Conference favorites Cavaliers and the Knicks twice each in the later stage of the season. The Knicks and the Cavaliers’ schedule is also quite interesting, as they will face New York on October 23 of the unveiling week and meet again in the year-end battle, with the last showdown in Cleveland on February 25. The Knicks will face the Hawks and Trae Young at home on January 3, while the Cavaliers will face LeBron James at home on January 29. This game may be James' last visit to Cleveland in his career, and will surely spark countless memories and feelings. There are many stars returning to the game in the

schedule. Miles Turner will return to Indiana as a Bucks player on November 4, Brooke Lopez will return to Milwaukee on March 30, Desmond Bain will visit Memphis on January 19, and in late January, the Celtics will also usher in the return battle between Ju Holiday and Porzingis. The NBA schedule of the new season is full of stories of superstar duels, team confrontations and star return. Every game may write a new basketball history. Let us look forward to the opening of the new season and witness the passion and glory on the basketball court.