The National Basketball Association (NBA) revealed the schedule for the start of the 2026/27 season and the list of five matches scheduled for the coveted Christmas round. The highlight of the announcement involves the long-awaited reunion of LeBron James, now a player for the Philadelphia 76ers, against his former club, the Los Angeles Lakers, a confrontation that generates great expectations among the league’s fans and reinforces the tradition of Christmas games as a showcase for great stories.
The kickoff of the main basketball competition is scheduled for October 20, 2026, with a schedule of three matches. The central clash of the day, at 8pm (Brasília time), will mark LeBron James’ debut for the Philadelphia 76ers in a clash with the New York Knicks. Previously, at 4pm, there will be a clash between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, who represented the best campaigns in the Eastern Conference in the last edition. Finally, at 10:30 pm, the Western Conference finalists, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, will face each other again.
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Upcoming duels for the opening of the season
Check out the other games that complete the first round of the NBA season:
- October 21, 2026, 8:30 pm: Miami Heat vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
- October 21, 2026, 11pm: Golden State Warriors face Los Angeles Lakers
- October 22, 2026, 8:00 pm: Philadelphia 76ers play Cleveland Cavaliers
- October 22, 2026, at 10:30 pm: Oklahoma City Thunder face Denver Nuggets
- October 23, 2026, at 8 pm: Boston Celtics duel with New York Knicks
- October 23, 2026, at 10:30 pm: San Antonio Spurs have a clash scheduled with Houston Rockets
The clashes of the traditional Christmas round were also revealed by the NBA, keeping LeBron James as the main focus. The acclaimed player will return to face his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, at 7pm (Brasília time), this time representing the Philadelphia 76ers. Before that, at 2 pm, the rematch of the 2026 NBA Finals will take place, with New York Knicks versus San Antonio Spurs.
Additional NBA Christmas Matches
See the other matches scheduled for the league’s Christmas celebration:
- December 25, 2026, at 4:30 pm: Boston Celtics and Miami Heat
- December 25, 2026, 10pm: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- December 26, 2026, at 12:30 am: Golden State Warriors face Denver Nuggets