The NBA released its schedule for the 2023–24 regular season Thursday, something that never used to be an event but is now an anticipated (?) television show. As much as I may want to sit here and make fun of people obsessed with the schedule—even though we already know every team is going to play against one another—I am absolutely the kind of person who circles matchups once they are finally put on a calendar. So with that in mind, here are 10 must-watch games on the NBA schedule.
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Lakers vs. Nuggets, Oct. 24
We will get a sense on opening night whether LeBron James and the Lakers have gained any ground on the defending champion Nuggets after Denver’s four-game sweep in the conference finals.
Suns vs. Warriors, Oct. 24
KD vs. Steph. The newest Big Three on the block vs. the Big Three that has defined a generation of hoops. This is an inspired opening-night tilt.
Suns vs. Lakers, Oct. 26
Remember in the NFL how Tom Brady and Peyton Manning would play each other every year? Well, this is the opposite. LeBron James and Kevin Durant have not played each other since 2018, which is incredibly disappointing. The NBA is trying its best to engineer the matchup by pitting the Suns and Lakers against each other in the first week of the season. If one of LeBron or KD somehow misses the second game of the year, then we’ll know without a doubt some kind of curse is at play.
Celtics vs. Heat, Oct. 27
A banner opening week continues with a rematch of the dramatic 2023 eastern conference finals, which itself was a rematch of the ’22 Eastern Conference finals, which was actually a rematch of the ’20 Eastern Conference finals. No matter how often these two teams play each other, the intrigue never seems to die down.
Warriors vs. Nuggets, Nov. 8
The Nuggets look like the new Big Bad in the West after their dominant championship run. The Warriors—the last team to knock out Denver from the playoffs—can send an early message during this nationally televised tilt.
Spurs vs. Thunder, Nov. 14
We’ll get to see Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren on the opening night of the league’s new in-season tournament.
Wizards vs. Warriors, Dec. 22
Both coaches need to come to an agreement to let Jordan Poole and Draymond Green go one-on-one for at least a quarter. This may be the only reason to tune in to a Wizards game this season.
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Mavericks vs. Suns, Dec. 25
Not only do these teams have a history after the 2022 playoffs, but the added layer of Durant vs. Kyrie Irving also makes this a tantalizing matchup. The game between these teams after the KD and Kyrie trades last season was equal parts well-played, entertaining and frosty.
Bucks vs. Nuggets, Jan. 29
Both games between Milwaukee and Denver last season were marred by injuries and scheduling. (The two matchups fell on a back-to-back.) That’s not the case this year, which means Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo—winners of four of the past five MVP awards—should hopefully be relatively fresh when they face off.
Grizzlies vs. Celtics, Feb. 4
A potential Finals matchup, perhaps. But more important, Marcus Smart’s first game back in Boston after he was shockingly traded away in the summer. Expect a whirlwind of emotion on each side.
