The NBA has begun releasing the 2026-2027 schedule, beginning with the opening week and Christmas match-ups today. They’re wasting no time in getting the Spurs matched back up with their opponents of the final two rounds of the playoffs, beginning with a Western Conference Finals rematch against Oklahoma City Thunder at home on opening night. Tip-off will be at 8:30 CT on NBC and Peacock.
It will follow the Knicks raising the banner and hosting the new-look 76ers (rumor has it the NBA was pushing
LeBron James to make is Decision 4.0 so they could get on with this, so he purposefully delayed his announcement to join the 76ers by a week out of spite), although for some reason the true season opener is between Celtics and Pistons five hours earlier at 2:00 PM CT. (Won’t everyone be at work?)
If you’re like me and are still recovering from all the 8:30 (closer to 9) tipoff times from the playoffs, too bad! Because the Spurs will get another one three days later, as they will host the Houston Rockets in that timeslot on October 23, which will be streamed on Prime. (At least it’s on a Friday!) This will also be one of their four home games in the Moody Center in Austin and will be a homecoming of sorts for Kevin Durant, who went to the University of Texas for his lone college season. (If we’re being honest, I’m not a fan of taking a rivalry game out of San Antonio, but maybe that’s just me.)
While we can finally say “at least the Spurs aren’t opening against the Mavs for the fourth year in a row,” one game that does feel a bit repetitive is Christmas in Madison Square Garden. And not just because the Spurs got more than enough of the Knicks in the Finals (which will add another level to this game), but it’s also a repeat of two years ago, when Victor Wembanyama made his Christmas debut in MSG. Despite him putting on a show with 42 points and 18 rebounds, the Spurs came up just short after blowing a late lead. (Sound familiar?) Tip-off will be at 11 AM CT on ABC and ESPN.
It will be followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Heat at Celtics, LeBron’s return to LA with the 76ers at Lakers, Thunder at Timberwolves, who surprisingly traded for LaMelo Ball, and what very well may be the bummer match-up of the day between two aging teams who did nothing to get better over the offseason with the Nuggets visiting the Warriors.
The NBA Cup groups and tournament schedules will be released tomorrow, and the complete regular season schedule for all 30 teams will be released on Thursday at 2:00 CT time. (If you feel the need to watch it, it will be on ESPN 2.) What do you think about these big-day match-ups, Pounders?
