25 NBA games to watch in 2025-26: Best nationally televised games
The league announced the full slate of games for the 2025-26 season on Thursday, Aug. 14, culminating a week in which the NBA had announced its national broadcast schedule for the return of the NBA on NBC, the NBA Cup and holiday tentpole games like Christmas Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
And while 1,230 regular season games are a lot to sort through, the focus of the average fan typically turns to the nationally broadcast games, of which there will be 247 in the upcoming season, up from 172 last season.
Here's a list of the 25 must-watch, nationally televised NBA games during the 2025-26 regular season.
*All times Eastern
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)
The team that went all-in on an NBA Finals run (Houston) goes up against the young squad that just won a title (Oklahoma City). Plus, it's the tip-off game and former Thunder player Kevin Durant gets to watch OKC raise the banner.
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves
Monday, Oct. 27 at 9:30 p.m. (Peacock exclusive)
These two teams typically play each other physically, and it's a rematch of the thrilling 2024 conference semifinal series that went seven games.
Orlando Magic at Atlanta Hawks
Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)
Both these teams retooled — with the Magic adding Desmond Bane and the Hawks nabbing Kristaps Porziņģis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker — and both could be darkhorses in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks
Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
It's another battle between familiar opponents, with the ramifications of the Karl-Anthony Towns-Julius Randle trade still unsettled.
Milwaukee Bucks at Cleveland Cavaliers
Monday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. (Peacock exclusive)
Giannis Antetokounmpo may use a game like this as a barometer to see where Milwaukee stacks up against some of the better teams in the East.
Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat
Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Although this won't be Jimmy Butler's first game back in Miami — he played back in March — Butler didn't acknowledge Heat players Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro before or after that game.
Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors
Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 10 p.m. (ESPN)
This is a rematch of the fascinating, physical first-round playoff series from last year, a series in which there was a scuffle seemingly every night.
New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons
Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 at 7 p.m. (Peacock exclusive)
Another rematch of a fascinating physical playoff series, this will be a good test to see if the Pistons have developed further.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers
Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)
The Thunder and Cavaliers had the best records in the NBA last season, each winning at least 64 games, with the Thunder winning the title.
Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder
Friday, Jan. 23 at 9:30 p.m. (Amazon Prime)
With star Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton out and center Myles Turner no longer in Indy, this matchup won't have the same juice that a typical NBA Finals rematch would have. It's still an intriguing watch, as the Pacers play a style that can give OKC fits.
Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Will this be LeBron James' final game in Cleveland, where he started his career and led the franchise to its only NBA championship?
Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets
Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 at 10 p.m. (ESPN)
The Nuggets beat the Clippers in a seven-game first round series last season and both are eyeing a deep run this season — the Nuggets relying on Nikola Jokić and the Clippers relying on a bunch of players in their mid-30s.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies
Monday, Feb. 2 at 9:30 p.m. (Peacock)
By this point in the season, we should have an idea of who the Grizzlies are under new coach Tuomas Iisalo, and whether he can make Memphis a contender with its young, athletic roster.
Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs
Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
The Thunder are the team of the present and future with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Western Conference, but the Spurs are climbing with Victor Wembanyama.
Dalla Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs
Saturday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. (Prime)
This should be an entertaining matchup between this year's No. 1 overall draft pick in Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg and the 2023 one in Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama.
New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers
Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)
On paper, these are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference, and this very well could be a preview of the conference finals.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons
Friday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
If the Pistons are to break out further as legitimate contenders in the East, this will be an appropriate test.
Houston Rockets at Miami Heat
Saturday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. (Prime)
Last season, these two teams fought when Rockets forward Amen Thompson tossed Heat guard Tyler Herro to the floor. Some bad blood may linger.
San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks
Sunday, March 1 at 1 p.m. (ABC)
Victor Wembanyama compiled 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and four blocks at Madison Square Garden last season. However, the Knicks won 117-114.
Dallas Mavericks at Boston Celtics
Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
A Maine native, Cooper Flagg grew up a Celtics fan and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft gets his first chance to play in the Garden.
Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers
Saturday, March 14 at 8:30 p.m. (ABC)
Seemingly every time these two teams play, the games tend to be thrilling and go down to the wire.
San Antonio Spurs at Milwaukee Bucks
Saturday, March 28 at 3 p.m. (Prime)
Just sit back and watch Giannis Antetokounmpo go at Victor Wembanyama, a matchup both players relish.
Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks
Sunday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)
Who can resist Luka Dončić returning to Dallas and playing against the team that traded him for Anthony Davis?
Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
Thursday, April 9 at 10 p.m. (Amazon Prime)
The last LeBron James vs. Steph Curry matchup? Is there any way they could be teammates in 2026-27?
Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets
Friday, April 10 at 10 p.m. (Amazon Prime)
The Thunder needed seven games to beat the Nuggets in the second round in May. This is an entertaining matchup any time of the season and playoff seeding could be at stake this late in the season.
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