ESPN and ABC are once again making a splash to open the NBA season, announcing a packed Opening Week and a tradition-rich Christmas Day lineup for the 2025-26 campaign. The networks’ coverage will feature marquee matchups loaded with star power, starting Wednesday, Oct. 22, and continuing with the league’s most-watched regular season day on Thursday, Dec. 25.
Now entering its 24th straight season as an NBA broadcast partner, ESPN remains the exclusive home for the league’s biggest moments — including the NBA Finals on ABC.
The season tips off Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. with Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in a battle of Eastern Conference contenders at Madison Square Garden. At 9:30 p.m., the focus shifts to Dallas, where No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg makes his debut for the Mavericks against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
Opening Week continues Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. with a Finals rematch between reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder — led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — and the Indiana Pacers, paced by Pascal Siakam. The late game at 10 p.m. features another star-laden clash as Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors host three-time MVP Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets.
ESPN and ABC will again air all five Christmas Day games delivering wall-to-wall coverage of what has become the NBA’s most celebrated regular season date.
The action starts at noon from Madison Square Garden with the Cavaliers and Knicks meeting again in a holiday rematch. At 2:30 p.m., Wembanyama and the Spurs travel to Oklahoma City to face Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder.
The 5 p.m. window sees Flagg and the Mavericks visiting Curry and the Warriors, followed by an 8 p.m. primetime showcase in Los Angeles. The Lakers, featuring LeBron James and Luka Dončić, take on the Houston Rockets and newly acquired superstar Kevin Durant in a matchup dripping with intrigue.
The night ends at 10:30 p.m. in Denver, where Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves — fresh off a Western Conference Finals run — face Jokić and the Nuggets.
The complete 2025-26 NBA on ESPN regular season schedule will be released Thursday.
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