NBA releases 2026-27 season calendar, with Knicks and 76ers highlighted at Christmas
At a time when LeBron James did not have a contract, his agent, Rich Paul, stated that the American basketball player would have joined the New York Knicks if the team had not won a title at the time.
Despite this scenario, LeBron James is scheduled to make his season debut at the iconic Madison Square Garden.
LeBron James’ Philadelphia 76ers will face the defending champion New York Knicks on October 20, 2026, in the main opening game of the 2026-27 NBA season. Before the match, the New York team’s flag handover ceremony will take place.
More on this story: NBA announces 2026/27 season calendar and Christmas clashes with return of LeBron James
Before that matchup, the Boston Celtics will visit the Detroit Pistons in the first game of the new season.
To conclude Day One’s series of events, Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs will host Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder in a rematch of the Western Conference Finals.
The opening schedule was announced on August 11, 2026, as part of the first set of NBA schedule reveals, which also included the Christmas games and other opening week matchups.
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New York will be highlighted again on the holiday as it hosts the first game of the day, a home rematch against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
Later, LeBron James will return to Los Angeles with the 76ers to play against Luka Doncic and the Lakers.
Other Christmas games include the Miami Heat visiting the Boston Celtics, the Oklahoma City Thunder facing the Minnesota Timberwolves away from home and the Golden State Warriors hosting the Denver Nuggets.
Complete NBA Schedule for Opening Week and Christmas
- First clashes of October 20, 2026
- Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons (3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT)
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT)
- Matches scheduled for October 21, 2026
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Miami Heat (7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT)
- Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT)
- Games scheduled for October 22, 2026
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
- Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT)
- Clashes scheduled for October 23, 2026
- New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
- Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT)
- Special duels on December 25, 2026
- San Antonio Spurs vs. New York Knicks (12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT)
- Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics (2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT)
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT)
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)
- Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT)
