Opening week is packed, with the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics hosting the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 18 — the first night of the season — and then the Los Angeles Lakers looking to spoil ring night for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. The following night features four teams with huge questions hanging over them. Zion Williamson is expected to return after an injured foot sidelined him for the entire 2021-22 campaign. His New Orleans Pelicans take on the Brooklyn Nets, the league’s biggest newsmaker this summer. Also on October 19 is a rematch of the Western Conference semifinals between the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks. The last time these teams met, Dallas beat Phoenix in Game 7 to reach the West Finals. Luka Doncic and the Mavs will feature a revamped backcourt after signing free agent Jalen Brunson with the New York Knicks last month. And that’s just the first two nights! Throughout the season, there will be plenty of other playoff rematches, reunion games, rookie matchups and battles that could help decide the MVP race. Here are the games we can’t wait to see in 2022-23. Note: This list of games does not include the NBA’s five Christmas Day games, which are featured here.
Big opening: Star matches of the first week
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT In the first game of the 2022-23 season, we’ll take a first look at the Celtics after their Finals loss to the Warriors. But the Celtics added plenty of depth this offseason in Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari, so opening night could be an indication of where Boston is headed. They will face the 76ers, who are looking to start the year with the group they assembled in the middle of the season, headlined by Joel Embiid and James Harden. — Kendra Andrews Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors October. 18, 10 p.m. ET | TNT The Warriors’ championship run last season was a lot, one of the most important being the polite shutdown of any suggestion that Golden State’s dynasty was over. The opening night ring ceremony will be the final celebration of that statement. And it will be in front of LeBron James — a staple during the Warriors’ dynastic run. — Andrews New Orleans Pelicans at Brooklyn Nets Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m. ET Zion Williamson is one of the most anticipated players heading into the season due, if nothing else, to the mystery surrounding his health and game. What the former No. 1 overall pick can offer becomes even more important as the Pelicans look to take the next step in their development. The Nets, meanwhile? There is no franchise with more questions hanging over it than Brooklyn. One thing Nets fans can probably cheer about is Ben Simmons’ expected return to NBA action after missing the entire 2021-22 season. But who will come with him? — Andrews Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz Oct. 19, 9 p.m. ET After missing the last year and a half with a torn ACL, the return of Jamal Murray is what the Nuggets hope will take them from a playoff team to a title contender. There was a lot of speculation toward the end of last season if Murray would join the Nuggets for the playoffs, but he wasn’t ready physically or mentally. Now he’s finally back, and the Nuggets are hoping his return, along with Michael Porter Jr., will be the support that two-time MVP Nikola Jokic needs. — Andrews Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns Oct. 19, 10 p.m. ET | ESPN The stench of the Suns’ Game 7 humiliation at home — when Luka Doncic tied the Phoenix team’s scoring total in the first half — could linger in the desert for a while. But Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Co. they won’t have to wait long to get a little revenge, opening the season at home against the Mavs. — Tim MacMahon Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia Oct. 76. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT PJ Tucker proved to be the final piece of the Bucks’ championship puzzle a few seasons ago. The 76ers are hoping Tucker makes a similar impact after joining Joel Embiid and former Rockets teammate James Harden in Philadelphia. Count on Tucker as the primary defender against his title teammate Antetokounmpo. — MacMahon LA Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers Oct. 20, 10 p.m. ET | TNT Several players are returning to action this season after injury. But Kawhi Leonard, who is coming off ACL surgery and missed the entire 2021-22 season, is the one whose impending return is expected to put the Clippers in title contention. Although he is expected to play in a few preseason games, the Clippers’ first matchup against the Lakers will provide the first official look at Leonard. — Andrews Boston Celtics at Miami Heat in October. 21, 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN The Heat’s summer pursuit of Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell on the trade market suggests Miami’s front office believes a major roster upgrade is needed to get out of the East. However, the Heat swept the Celtics in seven games in the East Finals, even though Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro struggled and missed time with injuries. — MacMahon
bad blood? Meetings you must see
Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ersNov. 22, 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT This is one of the most emotional games of the entire schedule — especially since Philly fans spent last year’s game in March directing profanity at Ben Simmons, even though the new Net just sat on the bench and ended up not even playing the entire season . The underrated part of this matchup could be the opportunity for Kyrie Irving and James Harden to go against each other again. — Nick Friedel Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah JazzDec. 9, 9 p.m. ET There’s evidence of a lot of thank you badges in Salt Lake City for that. Kudos to Gobert for developing into one of the game’s best defensive bigs in nine seasons — and kudos to the Timberwolves for giving up five first-round picks. — Friedel New York Knicks at Dallas MavericksDec. 27, 8:30 p.m The diminutive point guard carved out a nice niche for himself in Dallas, but this particular return appears to be a little angrier than usual given the circumstances surrounding Brunson’s departure — and the fact that the NBA is considering currently if the Knicks, who hired Branson’s dad, Rick, was tampered with. It will be fun to see former teammates of Brunson against Doncic in this setting. — Friedel Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers Feb. 23, 7 p.m. ET Brogdon doesn’t have the long-term ties to the city like others on this list, but the Pacers will miss the stability he brought to the floor when he was healthy enough to play. In Boston, his acquisition gives hope that he could be one of the missing pieces the Celtics need to win their first title since 2008. — Friedell Atlanta Hawks at San Antonio Spurs March 19, 4 p.m. ET Murray developed into one of the best young guards in the game during five seasons in San Antonio, but the deal from the Hawks, which included three future first-round picks and a trade, was too good for the rebuilding Spurs to pass up. . The Hawks hope Murray, and the defensive presence he brings, will be the perfect match for Trae Young. — Friedel
Run it back: More big postseason rematches
Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT The Mavs didn’t make it to the West Finals by a long shot, but there’s always the potential for the spectacular when Doncic and Curry meet. Case in point (a lot of them, actually): The superstars scored 99 points — 57 from Curry, 42 from Doncic — in a Mavs home win in February 2021. — MacMahon Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors December. 10, 8:30 p.m. ET | alphabet Tatum has struggled in the series (36.7 field goal percentage), but reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart may have the most to prove against the Warriors in this Finals rematch, considering Stephen Curry broke the Celtics defense en route to his first Finals MVP. . Boston will host Golden State on Jan. 19 (TNT). — MacMahon Minnesota Timberwolves at LA Clippers Dec. 14, 10 p.m. ET | ESPN Let’s be honest: This matchup lost some luster when Patrick Beverley, the former Clipper who had so much fun playing a role in his former team’s early exit, was traded to Utah in the Rudy Gobert deal. Good thing Anthony Edwards is more than capable of picking up the trash talking trash, though the presence of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard makes LA a much more dangerous foe than the Timberwolves bounced team. — MacMahon
Hollywood Nights: Lakers, Clippers take center stage
Phoenix Suns at LA Clippers October. 23, 10 p.m. ET | NBA TV The Clippers — without Kawhi Leonard — may be one Valley-Oop away from beating the Suns to advance to the 2021 NBA Finals. We might get to see what that would look like with both teams at full strength as the Clippers have passed the Suns as the West favorites. — McMenamin LA Clippers at Golden State Warriors Nov. 23, 10 p.m. ET | ESPN Who did you get? Are the Warriors going for their fifth ring in the Curry era or are the Clippers looking for the first title in franchise history? Heading into the 2022-23 season, these two teams are on everyone’s short list of potential champions, and this could prove to be a preview of an epic postseason clash. — McMenamin Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee Bucks Dec 2, 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN Wesley Matthews’ Revenge Game! In all seriousness, whenever LeBron James shares the court with Giannis Antetokounmpo — who already has half the MVPs (two) and a quarter as many titles (one) while being 10 years younger — fans get a glimpse of past, present and future of the NBA all at once. Los Angeles hosts Milwaukee on Feb. 9 (TNT). — McMenamin Los Angeles Lakers at Cleveland Cavaliers Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT In three games in Cleveland since joining the Lakers (a fourth was canceled…
