The NBA released its full 82-game schedule for the 2026-27 season on Thursday, August 13, two days after revealing the opening-night and Christmas Day slates.
The season tips off Tuesday, October 20 with three games, all on NBC and Peacock: Celtics at Pistons at 3 p.m. ET, 76ers at Knicks at 7 p.m., and Thunder at Spurs at 9:30 p.m.
Opening night stacks two playoff rematches
New York hosts the opener as defending champion. The Knicks beat San Antonio 4-1 in June for the franchise's first title since 1973, with Jalen Brunson named Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in the Game 5 clincher. New York marked it with a ticker-tape parade, where Alicia Keys performed "Empire State of Mind".
Their opponent is a remade Philadelphia team. LeBron James signed with the 76ers in free agency, and Jaylen Brown arrived by trade, making the Madison Square Garden opener the first look at both in Philadelphia uniforms.
The nightcap is the other rematch: Oklahoma City at San Antonio, a replay of last season's Western Conference finals.
Five games on Christmas
December 25 runs five games:
- Spurs at Knicks, 12 p.m. ET — a Finals rematch
- Heat at Celtics, 2:30 p.m. ET
- 76ers at Lakers, 5 p.m. ET — James returns to Los Angeles
- Thunder at Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET
- Nuggets at Warriors, 10:30 p.m. ET
Return dates
The schedule sets return dates for the offseason's biggest moves. James plays Cleveland on November 6. Brown returns to Boston on January 21. Giannis Antetokounmpo, now with Miami, goes back to Milwaukee on January 28. And on February 27, the top two picks in the 2026 draft meet for the first time as pros when AJ Dybantsa's Wizards face Darryn Peterson's Jazz.
One date carries an asterisk. Raptors-Clippers on November 2 was set before the league resolved Kawhi Leonard's situation — his trade to Toronto remains on hold pending the NBA's investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap, so which bench he sits on that night is still unsettled.
Cup and All-Star
NBA Cup group play begins October 30, with the championship game December 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The All-Star Game is February 21, 2027 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
The regular season ends Sunday, April 11, 2027, with all 30 teams in action.
It will be the first season in 18 years without one of the league's fixtures: Russell Westbrook retired after 18 seasons weeks before opening night.
Source: NBA Communications
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