NBA Games

  1. October 21: Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder. The season opener marks the NBA’s return to NBC for the first time in 24 years—and the league’s debut on Peacock. You couldn’t script a better first game: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder receive their championship rings from Adam Silver and raise the franchise’s first banner. All of it happens in front of Kevin Durant—arguably the greatest player ever to wear a Thunder jersey—who never did win that ring in OKC. He doesn’t seem too bothered.
  2. October 24, Detroit Pistons at Houston Rockets. Twins Ausar Thompson (Detroit) and Amen Thompson (Houston) go head-to-head in an exciting early-season matchup.
  3. October 27: Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves. On the first “Peacock NBA Monday,” where games stream exclusively on Peacock, two of the West’s best teams and stars collide. Get a look at a much deeper Nuggets squad led by Nikola Jokić as they take on Anthony Edwards and a Wolves team that’s reached the Western Conference Finals two years running.
  4. October 31: Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers. This is the first NBA Cup game—the league’s in-season tournament. Tune in to see Philly’s NBA Cup court and whether Joel Embiid and Paul George suit up. If they do, the Sixers can hang with anyone.
  5. November 1: Dallas Mavericks vs. Detroit Pistons. The NBA returns to Mexico City with what should be a thrilling showcase featuring Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, and Anthony Davis. The game streams on Peacock.
  6. November 2: Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Who is more likely to win, the Lakers or the Heat?
  7. November 3: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers. Myles Turner heads back to Indiana after leaving in free agency to get the deal he wanted and chase a title alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. Don’t expect Pacers fans to be understanding or forgiving.
  8. November 25: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Lakers fans will tell you there’s no rivalry with the Clippers—no battle for L.A.—then watch their reaction when you point out the Clippers have been the better team and franchise over the last decade—an NBA Cup showdown on NBC and Peacock.
  9. December 25: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder. In last season’s Finals, OKC’s players didn’t hide their motivation after being snubbed for a Christmas game; this year, the defending champs get their holiday showcase. It’s Victor Wembanyama vs. Chet Holmgren—two 7-footers steering the league’s future. It’s also San Antonio’s promising backcourt of De’Aaron Fox and No. 2 pick Dylan Harper against OKC’s MVP, SGA.
  10. December 25: Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors. The Christmas nightcap: Stephen Curry and his generation near the end of their run, facing No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg (and former No. 1 Anthony Davis). How much do Steph and Draymond Green have left? The Warriors always seem to save their best for the brightest lights—much like Jimmy Butler.
  11. January 2: Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks. Trae Young relishes the villain role and saves some of his best for Madison Square Garden, where he was once Public Enemy No. 1—and he’d love that title back.
  12. January 16: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Houston Rockets. Not just two of the West’s top teams—this is Anthony Edwards’ first shot of the season to go head-to-head with, and take down, his idol Kevin Durant.
  13. January 19: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers. The centerpiece of NBC and Peacock’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend is a four-game slate, and this one could be a Finals preview (both teams were No. 1 seeds last season and are expected to be there again). Any Shai vs. Donovan Mitchell matchup is a must-see.
  14. January 20: San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets. One of the league’s marquee rivalries for the next few years: Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Houston’s depth try to crack a defense anchored by Victor Wembanyama (a preseason DPOY favorite). Plus a chance to check in on No. 2 pick Dylan Harper and his progress in San Antonio.
  15. January 28: Hawks at Celtics. Kristaps Porzingis, who helped Boston win the 2024 title but battled injuries during his stint there, returns to TD Garden with an Atlanta team that’s deep and dangerous in the East—if KP can stay on the floor and bring the rim protection and spacing they need next to Trae Young.
  16. February 22: Celtics at Lakers. The Lakers will unveil a Pat Riley statue outside Crypto.com Arena before NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball showcase. LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Jaylen Brown add another chapter to the NBA’s greatest rivalry.
  17. February 24: Knicks at Cavaliers. The third meeting of the season between two preseason East favorites could be a statement game. Catch it on NBC and Peacock as part of Coast 2 Coast Tuesdays.
  18. March 9: Nuggets at Thunder. Part of Peacock’s NBA Monday slate (exclusive Monday streams all season), this one features the last two MVPs—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for OKC and Nikola Jokic for Denver—and could be a preview of the Western Conference Finals.
  19. April 5: Lakers at Mavericks. Any time Luka Doncic takes the floor in Dallas, it’s must-see TV—this one’s on Sunday Night Basketball on NBC and Peacock. It also comes amid chatter about LeBron’s interest in playing in Dallas with former teammates Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Plus, it’s a chance to check in on how Duke superstar Cooper Flagg is progressing in his freshman season.
  20. April 5: Rockets at Warriors. Just a couple of weeks before the playoffs—can Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler get some revenge for last year’s postseason exit?