Latest news with #OpeningWeek
Axios
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Axios
NBA's new TV deal: What it means for Spurs fans
The NBA released the 2025–26 schedule Thursday — and the Spurs landed 22 nationally televised games, including Opening Week and Christmas Day slots. Why it matters: This is the debut season of the NBA's new 11-year media rights deal with NBCUniversal, Amazon and ESPN, which reshuffles who shows what and when. It also marks the end of "NBA on TNT" after 36 seasons. By the numbers: The Knicks, Thunder and Lakers top the league with 34 nationally televised or streamed games each. In Texas, the Rockets (28) and Mavericks (23) each have more national matchups than the Spurs, according to Front Office Sports. State of play: The Spurs have two marquee matchups. Opening Week vs. standout rookie Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks on Oct 22 (ESPN). Christmas Day vs. the Thunder (ABC and ESPN) — one of the league's most coveted regular-season slots. How it works: The nationally televised schedule varies by day of the week. Mondays: Peacock Tuesdays: NBC/Peacock Wednesdays: ESPN Thursdays: Prime Fridays: Prime and ESPN Saturdays: Prime (afternoon games) and ABC/ESPN App (night games) What they're saying: Fans are still figuring out the changes.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtics' schedule release has officially begun
The Celtics' entire 2025-2026 NBA regular season schedule won't be officially released until Thursday, but several games have already been revealed. Two primetime match-ups have already been revealed: an Opening Week game on Amazon Prime, and one match-up on Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Friday, October 24th: Celtics at New York Knicks at 7:30pm ET on Prime Monday, January 19th: Celtics at Detroit Pistons at 8pm ET on NBC In addition, the team's NBA Cup schedule has been released: October 31st: Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers at 7pm ET on NBC November 7th: Celtics at Orlando Magic at 7pm ET on NBC November 21st: Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets at 7:30pm ET on NBC November 26th: Celtics vs Pistons at 5pm ET on NBC It's also already been revealed that the Celtics won't play on Opening Night or on Christmas Day. It's their first time not playing on a Christmas Day game since 2015. The rest of the Celtics' schedule will be out on Thursday.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Thunder to face Cavaliers on MLK Day in 2025-26 regular season
Even though August is usually a desert of NBA content, the middle of the month provides an oasis. The league is set to release its 2025-26 regular season schedule on Thursday, Aug. 14. A couple of days before, a few key matchups have already been revealed. The NBA revealed its Opening Week and Christmas 2025 schedule. It shouldn't be surprising to see the Oklahoma City Thunder heavily featured in both. The NBA champion will be involved in two of the biggest days of the regular season. The Thunder will host the Houston Rockets for the 2025-26 Opening Night on Tuesday, Oct. 21. As tradition, they will celebrate their NBA championship with a pregame banner drop and ring ceremony. Kevin Durant's attendance across the court gives this matchup some extra juice as it will start the NBC era. The Thunder will then host the San Antonio Spurs for their Christmas contest. The NBA has leaned on the Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama rivalry. That'll be highlighted once again with a 1:30 p.m. CT tipoff on ABC and ESPN. That's not the only holiday the Thunder will play on, though. The NBA announced on Tuesday that they will be part of a four-game slate on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It'll be a marquee matchup too as a possible 2026 NBA Finals preview. The Thunder will travel on the road to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Jan. 19. The 1:30 p.m. CT tipoff will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. Both had the NBA's best records last season as the sole 60-plus win teams. With the rosters mostly the same, they'll be in the title conversations again. The Thunder enter the 2025-26 season as a popular pick to repeat as NBA champions.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
When will Thunder face Pacers for NBA Finals rematch in 2025-26 regular season?
Even though August is usually a desert of NBA content, the middle of the month provides an oasis. The league is set to release its 2025-26 regular season schedule on Thursday, Aug. 14. A couple of days before, a few key matchups have already been revealed. The NBA revealed its Opening Week and Christmas 2025 schedule. It shouldn't be surprising to see the Oklahoma City Thunder heavily featured in both. The NBA champion will be involved in two of the biggest days of the regular season. The Thunder will host the Houston Rockets for the 2025-26 Opening Night on Tuesday, Oct. 21. As tradition, they will celebrate their NBA championship with a pregame banner drop and ring ceremony. Kevin Durant's attendance across the court gives this matchup some extra juice as it will start the NBC era. The Thunder's second opponent was also revealed on Tuesday morning. They will travel on the road to face the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, Oct. 23. The game will be broadcast on ESPN with a 6:30 p.m. CT tipoff. Of course, this will mark the first time these squads will meet up since the 2025 NBA Finals. The championship series rematch the following season usually attracts eyeballs, but this year might see a low turnout. Tyrese Haliburton will be out as he recovers from a torn Achilles. Either way, it's nice to know who the Thunder will face for their second game. It'll be exciting to see what their full 2025-26 regular season schedule looks like when it's released. They enter next year as a popular pick to repeat as NBA champions.
5 days ago
- Sport
NBA's must-see games revealed
Get ready for the season as we unveil ESPN's Opening Week and Christmas Day matchups, with all five Christmas Day games airing on ESPN and ABC.
