The 2024-25 NBA schedule will be released at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 16, which means it’s time to get out your Sharpie markers to mark your calendars.
After a thrilling NBA playoffs ended with the Celtics claiming their NBA-record 18th title, the season kicks off with Boston receiving their championship rings before taking on their rivals from New York. Prior to the release of the schedule, NBA insiders revealed the opening night and Christmas Day schedules, but there are even more games to look forward to during the regular season.
The Jugo Mobile looks at 10 games you won’t want to miss during the 2024-25 NBA season.
Top 10 games of the 2024-25 NBA schedule
Spurs vs Thunder
Date: October 30th
The individual rivalry between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren will be fun to watch for years to come. There seems to be mutual respect and also a level of competitiveness that drives the two to battle it out.
Add to that the feud between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his former tag team partner Chris Paul, and you have a budding rivalry with many layers.
Magic against Cavaliers
Date: November 1st
The last time these two teams met, Orlando led by as many as 18 points in the first half of Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs. The veteran Cavaliers team fought back and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 12-point victory.
#PLAYOFFMODE SPIDA ?️
Donovan Mitchell totaled 89 points in Games 6 and 7 of Round 1, giving him the second-most total points in a Game 6-7 stretch in playoff history.
Game 6: 50 PTS
Game 7: 39 PTS#NBAPlayoffs Presented by Google Pixel image.twitter.com/QX51PAHj87— NBA (@NBA) May 5, 2024
Naturally, that change has been on the Magic’s mind all offseason. Paolo Banchero’s jump in year three could vault Orlando into contention territory, but Cleveland has made some adjustments and is looking to remain among the Eastern Conference’s elite.
Warriors vs Celtics
Date: November 6th
The 2022 NBA Finals rematch has even more flavor after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Fresh off his first NBA title, Jayson Tatum was in and out of Steve Kerr’s rotation as Team USA sought gold. Add to that the absence of Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, and Boston’s star duo could be ready to prove themselves against USA Basketball’s leader.
But as we learned in 2022, Stephen Curry stands in the way.
Mavericks vs Nuggets
Date: November 10th
Who is the best player in the NBA? Luka Doncic came close to surpassing him during Dallas’ run to the NBA Finals, but as of today, Nikola Jokic remains atop the throne.
The two friends bring out the best in each other and this year’s regular season series could influence the decision of who is the best in the league.
Knicks vs 76ers
Date: November 12th
After last year’s playoff series, the rivalry between the Knicks and 76ers is getting back to being like old times.
With Mikal Bridges on board, New York now has a quartet of players who starred in college in Philadelphia and are very comfortable at the Wells Fargo Center. Add Paul George to the rivalry, and there’s plenty of star power between teams that aren’t too far from each other geographically.
Timberwolves vs Suns
Date: November 17th
Anthony Edwards vs. Kevin Durant is the perfect story of idols turned rivals turned teammates.
During Minnesota’s four-game sweep of Phoenix in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Edwards made it clear that the future is now and that time is up for the older generation. At the Olympics, however, Edwards made it clear that he still idolizes Durant.
KD throws it ⬆️
The ant pulls it DOWN ?#ParisOlympics | NBC and Peacock photo.twitter.com/Jq9DRJykUd— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 10, 2024
The first meeting between the teams should not disappoint.
Pacers vs Bucks
Date: November 22
There are playoff rematches and there are playoff rematches with added meaning. This one has added meaning.
Milwaukee and Indiana met 11 times last season, with games during the preseason tournament and a six-game series in the NBA playoffs. The short-handed Bucks were unlucky in the playoffs and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and company will be looking to get revenge on Tyrese Haliburton’s team.
Grizzlies vs. Pelicans
Date: November 29th
Despite Zion Williamson falling out of the play-in tournament, New Orleans made the playoffs last year and had a spectacular offseason, headlined by the acquisition of Dejounte Murray. The Grizzlies had a down year, but drafted Zach Edey and will get Ja Morant back from injury.
Morant and Williamson will always be linked to each other, and these Memphis-New Orleans matchups could be huge in determining the standings in the West.
Rockets against Kings
Date: December 3rd
Houston came into the final stretch of the 2023-24 season strong and will be a real threat to qualify for the 2025 postseason. Sacramento fell short in the Play-In tournament and now adds DeMar DeRozan to a roster that was decimated by injuries at the end of the season.
Both the Rockets and Kings should be playoff contenders next season. Their matchups will be a showcase of star power and grit.
Lakers vs. Clippers
Date: January 19th
After 25 years of sharing the same arena, the Lakers and Clippers have their own space. That’s why the Lakers’ first trip to Inglewood to face the Clippers at the Intuit Dome will be a memorable one.
LeBron James finally got over the hurdle of beating Tyronn Lue during the 2023-24 season, but will the purple and gold dominate the new arena the same way it dominated the Clippers’ home games at Crypto.com Arena?
