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From the Boston Celtics' ring ceremony to the regular-season debut of the Los Angeles Clippers' Intuit Dome, there's plenty to look forward to during the opening week of the 2024-25 season.
Here's a look at the highlights from the opening week, as well as the NBA's continuing tradition of hosting holiday games on Christmas Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The full schedule can be found at NBA.com.
NBA @NBASAVE THE DATE! 📅<br><br>The 2024-25 regular season tips off on Tuesday, October 22. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KiaTipOff24?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KiaTipOff24</a><br><br>Check out the National TV Schedule for opening week 👀🍿 <a href="https://t.co/sBhHJiECq6">pic.twitter.com/sBhHJiECq6</a>
Opening Week Nationally Televised Games
Tuesday, Oct. 22
- New York Knicks at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
Wednesday, Oct. 23
- Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Clippers, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Thursday, Oct. 24
- San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
Friday, Oct. 25
- Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 26
- LA Clippers at Denver Nuggets, 5 p.m. ET, NBA TV
- Orlando Magic at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET, NBA TV
- Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Christmas Day
- San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks: 12 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks: 2:30 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN
- Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics: 5 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN
- Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors: 8 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN
- Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Martin Luther King Jr. DayNationally Televised Games
- Dallas Mavericks at Charlotte Hornets: 12 p.m. ET, NBA TV
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies: 2:30 p.m. ET, TNT
- Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors: 5 p.m. ET, TNT
Olympic champions Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White return to the Boston Celtics on Oct. 22 as the team begins its title defense with a tilt against the New York Knicks.
The Knicks re-signed O.G. Anunoby, locked Jalen Brunson in on a team-friendly deal and added former Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges this offseason. Although the team will need Mitchell Robinson to step up for Isaiah Hartenstein after the former starting center signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Knicks will come into this fall as arguably a stronger team. Downing the defending champions would be a strong statement with which to start the 2024-25 season.
The Clippers' Intuit Dome, which features a double-sided "halo" video board that wraps around the entire stadium, will open for its first NBA regular-season game on Wednesday of opening week for a clash against the visiting Suns.
After losing Paul George this offseason, the Clippers have plenty of questions to answer regarding their starting lineup heading into the campaign. The Suns are meanwhile hoping Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal will all be healthy for the season opener after injuries kept the star trio from playing together as much as Phoenix would have liked last season.
The opening week heats up on Thursday as the Thunder takes on the Nugget in a clash between the top two seeds in the Western Conference last season.
The Thunder have added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to put together a stronger starting lineup this fall, while the Nuggets need to decide how to cover the roster gap left behind by the departure of starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. This matchup between two potential Western contenders will show how well the Nuggets have been able to recover from the roster losses the team has endured since its run to the 2023 title.
The top contest to look forward to on Christmas Day might be the 76ers at the Celtics. The Sixers have added Paul George, Caleb Martin and Andre Drummond to a core of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr., and will enter the 2024-25 season ready to climb the Eastern Conference standings once again. Fans will hope Embiid is healthy for this must-watch contest between two perennial Eastern Conference heavyweights.
The NBA will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a slate of marquee matchups. Two of the NBA's young stars will face off when Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards meet on the holiday Monday during a game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves.
