After an offseason notable for the Dallas Mavericks’ improbable lottery win and drafting of Cooper Flagg, the NBA season tips off Tuesday with a pair of games that begin the six-month, 82-game season.
Oklahoma City enters as the defending champions and they are favored to repeat, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets as top challengers.
Flagg is the favorite to win rookie of the year for a Mavericks team hoping to hang in until Kyrie Irving recovers from knee surgery, which is expected to be in January.
When does NBA tip off?
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder tip off the season at home against the Houston Rockets Tuesday, Oct. 21. The game is set for 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
The second game of the opening night doubleheader will feature the Golden State Warriors at the Los Angeles Lakers in an 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m. CT tip.
NBA opening night
Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder, 5:50 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT Tuesday, NBC/Peacock
Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m. CT, Tuesday, NBC/Peacock
What are the other NBA openers?
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT Wednesday, ESPN
Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Hornets, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT Wednesday
Miami Heat at Orlando Magic, 5 p.m. MT/6 p.m. CT Wednesday
Toronto Raptors at Atlanta Hawks, 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT Wednesday
Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons, 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT Wednesday
Boston Celtic at Chicago Bulls, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT Wednesday
New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT Wednesday
Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks, 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT Wednesday
Los Angeles Clippers at Utah Jazz, 7 p.m. MT/8 p.m. CT Wednesday
Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns, 7 p.m. MT/8 p.m. CT Wednesday
San Antonio Spurs at Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 p.m. MT/8:30 p.m. CT Wednesday, ESPN
Minnesota Timberwolves at Portland Trail Blazer, 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m. CT Wednesday
NBA TV schedule
The NBA has new broadcast partners this year. Two subscription services, Prime Video and Peacock, are replacing TNT. NBC also has games, as well as ESPN/ABC.
Here is where to find televised NBA games:
* starts in January
What are the NBA Christmas Day games?
The Christmas Day schedule of five games is a highlight of the annual NBA schedule.
Who are the favorites to win the NBA championship? Odds
Odds to win the title from ESPN BET
NBA 2025-26 season key dates
Oct. 31: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Group Play tips off on Prime Video
Nov. 1: NBA Mexico City Game 2025 – Detroit Pistons vs. Dallas Mavericks at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico (Peacock)
Nov. 28: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Group Play concludes
Dec. 9-10: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Knockout Rounds (Quarterfinals) on Prime Video
Dec. 13: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Semifinals (Las Vegas, NV) on Prime Video
Dec. 16: Emirates NBA Cup 2025 – Championship (Las Vegas, NV) on Prime Video
Jan. 15: NBA Berlin Game 2026 – Magic vs. Grizzlies at Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany (Prime Video)
Jan. 18: NBA London Game 2026 – Magic vs. Grizzlies at The O2 Arena in London, England (Prime Video)
Feb. 13-15: 2026 NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles, CA
April 12: Regular season ends (all 30 teams play)
April 14-17: NBA Play-In Tournament
April 18: NBA Playoffs begin
LeBron James
The 40-year-old forward will begin his 23rd season in the league when his Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors Tuesdaynight at 8 p.m. MT/9 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on NBC.
At the moment he’s in the news for his ongoing feud with ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith who accused James of having a racial double standard in his dealings with the media.
“‘You ever see LeBron go at a White boy?,” Smith said on Ryan Clark’s The Pivot Podcast. “Let’s call it what it is. You ever see him do that? You’ll say you saw him come at me.
“Anybody with professional ethics, who knows sports and knows what comes with it knows that I did not do anything wrong to that young man. But to paint me as somebody that would attack a child, just because I dislike you, it’s low, it’s low.”
Last season James took offense at Smith’s comments on James’ son Bronny.
Cooper Flagg
The No 1 pick in the draft starts his season when the Dallas Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night. The game will tip at 7:30 p.m. MT/8:30 p.m. CT.
While Flagg’s natual position is at forward, he could play some point guard early in the season before Kyrie Irving returns from his knee injury. Flagg is a heavy favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: NBA start date: When does NBA season start? Time, dates, teams, NBA championship odds
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
