ESPN and ABC have announced their marquee broadcast schedules for the opening week and Christmas Day of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. The slate features the reigning NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder, along with the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, and Dallas Mavericks.
The season’s initial coverage, marking ESPN’s 24th consecutive year as a primary NBA broadcast partner, will feature doubleheaders on October 22 and 23.
Opening week action begins Wednesday, October 22, with an Eastern Conference matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Later that evening, the Dallas Mavericks and debuting top draft pick Cooper Flagg will host Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
On Thursday, October 23, a 2025 NBA Finals rematch will see the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by reigning M.V.P. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, visit the Indiana Pacers. The night will conclude with the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry hosting the Denver Nuggets and three-time M.V.P. Nikola Jokić.
NBA Opening Week Schedule
- Wednesday, Oct. 22
- Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Thursday, Oct. 23
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
- Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET, ESPN)
The league’s traditional Christmas Day showcase on Thursday, December 25, will feature five consecutive games airing on both ESPN and ABC.
The holiday lineup starts with the Cavaliers visiting the Knicks. Following that, the Thunder will host the Spurs. The afternoon continues with the Mavericks facing the Warriors in San Francisco. The primetime game features the Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James and Luka Dončić, hosting a Houston Rockets team featuring newly acquired star Kevin Durant. The day concludes with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards traveling to face the Denver Nuggets.
NBA Christmas Day Schedule
- Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks (12 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
- San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
- Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors (5 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
- Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
