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15 League Pass must-see matchups during first 2 months of the 2026-27 season
Aug 13 2026 22:49 · By Shaun Powell · 20 Reads
Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs face off against Anthony Edwards and the Wolves on Oct. 31.
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Complete schedule: 2026-27 NBA season
Sometimes the most fun and biggest excitement takes place away from the national TV glare, and the 2026-27 NBA schedule will present dozens of opportunities for that.
With so many games involving so many interesting teams, there are top matchups nightly, and therefore lots of possibilities and potential for drama.
Here are 15 League Pass matchups to circle in the calendar year 2026, between Opening Night to New Year’s Eve:
Oct. 25: Pistons vs. Sixers
(
7:30 p.m. ET
): Philadelphia will open at home against the team with the best record in the East last season. It won’t be simple for the recharged Sixers to snatch that designation from Cade Cunningham and the Pistons, but the first hints will be dropped right away.
Oct. 31: Timberwolves vs. Spurs
8 p.m. ET
): A group of players from each of these teams spent a portion of the summer training in Paris. That’s the benefit of having Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) and Rudy Gobert (Wolves) as teammates. Those groups didn’t meet up at the Louvre, but will see each other in San Antonio on Halloween, supplying a Western Conference treat.
Nov. 5: Heat vs. Warriors
10 p.m. ET
): Giannis Antetokounmpo was rumored to get traded to several teams last summer, the Warriors among them. Well, as we know now, he took his talents elsewhere. Still, this is a delicious test against Stephen Curry and especially Draymond Green; the elite defender will have his hands full against Giannis or Bam Adebayo, pick your poison.
Nov. 19: Knicks vs. Timberwolves
): Minnesota finally has a point guard with star potential, and it’s anxious to see what LaMelo Ball can offer up against Jalen Brunson, the reigning NBA Finals MVP. The Wolves hope Ball can reduce the load from Anthony Edwards and make the Wolves harder to defend. What better test than against the defending champs?
Nov. 22: Pacers vs. Knicks
): One thing about Madison Square Garden, those fans love villains. And one of their meanest and most haunting will return just a few days before Thanksgiving. Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers, mind you, were the last folks to beat the defending champion Knicks in the playoffs.
Nov. 23: Thunder vs. Pacers
): The last time these teams met fully healthy was the seventh game of the 2025 Finals, when Haliburton suffered an Achilles injury that stole all of the following season. Well, he’s back, and the Pacers are hoping for a return to glory. It starts with a tip against a still-mighty Western contender.
Nov. 25: Cavaliers vs. Knicks
): The rematch of the Eastern Conference finalists is expected to be more closely contested than last spring when the Knicks won easily. If nothing else, the Cavs learned valuable lessons and Donovan Mitchell and company hope to apply them in this East Group B NBA Cup matchup, which will actually be their third meeting in 2026-27.
Nov. 28: Sixers vs. Rockets
8:30 p.m. ET
): LeBron and Kevin Durant have more combined points than a pinball machine in the world’s busiest arcade. So much greatness, so much staying power. There’s no guarantee that these two scoring titans will meet many more times in the future, so savor this while you can.
Dec. 2: Sixers vs. Nuggets
7 p.m. ET
): One of the best big man battles awaits with a pair of MVPs, Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid. This will take center stage, so to speak, and it’s rare that a game involving LeBron will not revolve around him.
Dec. 17: Mavericks vs. Sixers
): Well, yes, Cooper Flagg is hoping to attach a strong sophomore season to his great start. But the more buzz in this game is Kyrie Irving meeting up with his former teammate; they both won a championship in Cleveland, as you might recall. LeBron looks forward to this game as well as Kyrie, fully mended after knee surgery.
Dec. 19: Lakers vs. Nuggets
9 p.m. ET
): You’re not the only one circling this game. Jamal Murray is, too, not because he has a vendetta against the Lakers, but because he always plays well against Los Angeles. And the Lakers have the postseason scars to prove it. Jokic and Luka Dončić are worth watching, too, as you know.
Dec. 20: Pistons vs. Celtics
): These teams meet for the second time on this date, following their Opening Night tipoff. And it’s certain to be worth watching again. By this time in the season, we’ll know plenty more about Jayson Tatum and how far he can take Boston without Jaylen Brown, especially seeing how Cade Cunningham pulled the Pistons to the top of the East last season.
Dec. 30: Rockets vs. Warriors
): Old teammates square off when Durant meets Curry. They helped the Warriors win a pair of championships not long ago, and now are continuing to get buckets, on different teams, here in their age-38 seasons.
Dec. 30: Sixers vs. Suns
): LeBron meets up with a most interesting nemesis, Dillon Brooks, who no doubt will relish the chance to rekindle their fondness for each other. Devin Booker hopes to steal the attention with his top-guard matchup against Tyrese Maxey.
Dec. 31: Heat vs. Thunder
): A good way to usher out the Old Year is to put a pair of two-time former MVPs on the floor against each other. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is attempting to make it three straight while Giannis hopes to bring an MVP-level to the Heat as he teams with Adebayo, giving the Heat a considerable front-line advantage against most teams.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at
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