The start of a new NBA season is on the horizon. The biggest trades have been made, rookies have begun to settle in, and the schedule is set.
Diehard NBA fans — myself included — will tell you that it’s worth watching as many games as possible, but that’s not always realistic. So, if you’re after the best of what the 2024-25 season has in store, you’re in luck.
I’ve gone through the entire regular season schedule and picked out 10 games that you won’t want to miss, ranging from playoff rematches, renewed rivalries, and marquee meetings on the biggest days of the NBA calendar.
Read on to find out when you can expect to see the most high-stakes action and intense drama the 2024-25 NBA season has to offer.
Top 10 NBA Games To Watch This Season
10. Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Clippers
Wednesday, Nov. 6 (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Why it matters: This will be Paul George’s first game back in Los Angeles since he left the franchise in favor of the Philadelphia 76ers this summer.
The tandem of George and Kawhi Leonard failed to deliver a highly sought-after NBA title for the Clippers — even after adding James Harden to the mix — so don’t expect PG to receive an especially warm welcome from the home crowd.
This will also be one of the Clippers’ first home games in their all-new Intuit Dome, and the venue alone should be worth tuning in for.
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9. Dallas Mavericks @ Golden State Warriors
Tuesday, Nov. 12 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Why it matters: On the subject of returns, this matchup marks Klay Thompson’s first game against the Golden State Warriors since he was traded to Dallas in the offseason. Unlike George, expect an outpouring of support for Thompson, who helped bring four titles to the Bay Area over 13 years with the franchise.
Thompson and Stephen Curry broke countless records during their time together in Golden State, and their split this summer signaled the end of an era for one of the most dominant teams in NBA history. This will be one tribute video worth watching (and the game should be pretty great, too).
8. Oklahoma City Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs
Tuesday, Nov. 19 (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Why it matters: All three matchups between the Thunder and Spurs will appear on national television this year, but this one carries the highest stakes. It isn’t their first meeting or their last — rather, it’s an NBA In-Season Tournament (now called the NBA Cup) game featuring two of the league’s premier up-and-coming talents.
Victor Wembanyama has already arrived. The unanimous 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year is arguably one of the league’s 10 best players, and his two-way impact is virtually unmatched. With an improved supporting cast and another year under his belt, the 20-year-old could be a legitimate player in the MVP conversation.
- Find out where the new-look Spurs land in our NBA Power Rankings.
Oklahoma City, on the other hand, features Chet Holmgren, who helped lead the Thunder to a 57-25 record and the West’s No. 1 seed as a 21-year-old rookie in 2023-24. His battles with Wembanyama will be worth watching for years to come, and this is only the beginning.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Tuesday, Dec. 31 (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV)
Why it matters: Despite featuring younger cores, Minnesota and Oklahoma City earned two of the top three spots in the Western Conference this past season. The Timberwolves were carried by 22-year-old superstar Anthony Edwards, while the Thunder featured 25-year-old NBA MVP finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
These squads didn’t meet in the playoffs, but it’s clear that they’ll be instrumental in determining who represents the West in the NBA Finals for the foreseeable future. This could be the start of a major rivalry and signal the beginning of a new era for the league, so it’s only right that they’ll play on New Year’s Eve.
6. Los Angeles Lakers @ Golden State Warriors
Wednesday, Dec. 25 (8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Why it matters: Few players have revolutionized the game quite like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, and their matchups have always reflected that. The mid-2010s were defined by James’ Cavaliers and Curry’s Warriors, and ever since the 2018-19 season, we’ve been treated to at least four meetings per year.
Unfortunately, we’re nearing the end of their storied rivalry. James is entering his age-40 season, and Curry will be 37 in March. There aren’t many games left on the list between the two, and certainly not with their teams positioned to compete for an NBA title.
This is a matchup we need to enjoy while we still have it, and it’s arguably the highlight of this year’s Christmas Day schedule. Expect another epic battle.
5. New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Tuesday, Oct. 22 (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Why it matters: The Knicks and Celtics are widely expected to be the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Boston is fresh off an NBA championship, while New York — which won 50 games in 2023-24 — will bring a revamped roster to TD Garden in this year’s season-opener in hopes of spoiling ring night.
The Celtics took four out of five from the Knicks last season, but New York made serious improvements over the summer, including trading for Nets star Mikal Bridges and signing versatile forward OG Anunoby to a long-term contract.
- See why the Knicks are among the best bets in our NBA Finals odds.
This will be a great opportunity for the Knicks to find out exactly what they’re capable of — or for Boston to prove why it’s still the team to beat. Not a bad way for the NBA season to begin.
4. Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics
Wednesday, Dec. 25 (5 p.m. ET, ABC)
Why it matters: The NBA’s annual Christmas Day slate is generally one of the most exciting days of the season, and this year is no exception. In addition to the aforementioned tilt between the Lakers and Warriors, we’ll also be treated to Sixers-Celtics.
Boston will serve as a significant measuring stick for Philadelphia, which added Paul George to an already-stellar core of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey this offseason. All the pieces are seemingly there for the 76ers, but dating back to 2017-18, Embiid has yet to lead the team beyond the second round of the playoffs.
This game has every reason to be an instant classic. Expect plenty of drama.
3. Indiana Pacers @ Milwaukee Bucks
Friday, Nov. 22 (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Why it matters: Pacers-Bucks might be the best rivalry in the league right now. Between their battle in the NBA In-Season Tournament, the first-round playoff series, or the infamous game ball incident following Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 64-point performance, there’s clearly no love lost between these two.
This matchup will be their first since Indiana eliminated Milwaukee from the postseason, and it also happens to be an NBA Cup game, so there’s no risk of any big-name players missing the contest due to rest. The atmosphere will be electric.
Oh, and one last thing: Antetokounmpo has scored 42.2 points per game in his last five meetings with the Pacers, including two outings with 54-plus. You’d have to expect that he’ll have this date circled.
2. Boston Celtics @ Dallas Mavericks
Saturday, Jan. 25 (5:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Why it matters: Of course I’m including this NBA Finals rematch on the list. This will be the first meeting of the season between the Celtics and Mavericks (the second coming on Feb. 6 in Boston), and I fully expect it to deliver on the hype.
Storylines aside, this should just be a great game. Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving form one of the league’s most potent offensive duos, and the addition of Klay Thompson could help this team reach another level if he finds a way to turn back the clock.
The Celtics are just the Celtics. Boston won 64 games last season and features an incredible starting five, highlighted by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jrue Holiday. Until proven otherwise, this is the best team in the NBA, and Dallas will be more than motivated to take another shot at them.
1. Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday, Nov. 1 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Why it matters: Denver and Minnesota delivered the best series of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Not only was it one of just three series to go the distance, but the Timberwolves’ improbable 20-point comeback on the road in Game 7 made for the most exciting, high-stakes half of basketball we’ve seen in years.
The two won’t have to wait long to write the next chapter of their rivalry thanks to an early-season contest on November 1 in Minnesota. I expect each team to treat this matchup with respect, too — they finished one game apart in the standings last year, and home-court advantage remains a priority.
Wins and losses in games like these can sometimes set the tone for a team’s entire season. Nikola Jokić and co. will be eager to avenge last year’s early exit, but this is also a huge “prove it" game for Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, who are gaining momentum as one of the league’s most dangerous squads.
Other Notable NBA Games This Season
- NBA Cup Championship Game: Tuesday, Dec. 17 (TBD)
- Indiana Pacers @ San Antonio Spurs (In Paris): Saturday, Jan. 25 (Noon ET, ESPN)
- Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers: Thursday, Jan. 23 (10 p.m. ET, TNT)
- Orlando Magic @ Cleveland Cavaliers: Friday, Nov. 1 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Washington Wizards @ Atlanta Hawks: Monday, Oct. 28 (7:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass)
