Top 10 Must-Watch Games of the New Season: Durant's Rockets Debut Against the Thunder, Davis Returns to L.A. to Face Doncic

On August 15, Beijing time, the NBA officially announced the schedule for the 2025-26 season, with the opening game set to kick off on October 22. The renowned American media CBS has listed 10 must-watch games for the new season along with their highlights—

October 22: The Thunder host the Rockets

The first game of the new season will feature a highly anticipated matchup. This game is particularly captivating not only because the Thunder will receive their championship rings and raise the championship banner but also because we will see Kevin Durant face off against the team where his career began—the team he left to pursue a championship. Now, Durant will be sitting on the visiting bench, watching Oklahoma City celebrate their championship victory. Additionally, this will be Durant's first appearance representing his new team, the Rockets, after being traded this summer.

This opening game alone has countless storylines. While we need to temper our reactions, it will undoubtedly serve as a barometer to gauge how far the Rockets are from genuinely challenging Oklahoma City this season.

October 23: Mavericks host Spurs

At the start of the season, we will witness a showdown between the top two rookies from this year's draft, with number one pick Cooper Flagg and number two pick Dylan Harper making their NBA debuts on the second day of the season. Expectations are high for Flagg, who is viewed as a generational talent, but he will face a tough challenge as his opponent is another prodigious player, Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama's season was cut short last year due to a shoulder deep vein thrombosis, and he is now making his return.

October 30: Pistons host Magic

At first glance, this game might not seem like a "must-watch matchup" compared to others on the list. It lacks the superstar power to drive viewership and does not have a history of success that would draw widespread fan interest. However, both the Pistons and the Magic have the potential to be among the most intriguing teams in the East this season. These are two up-and-coming teams with promising young cores that could compete for a top-four spot in the East. We will see which team has the advantage in their rebuilding processes as they both try to capitalize on injuries to the top teams in the East.

November 4: Pacers host Bucks

This matchup would be highly anticipated if Tyrese Haliburton remains healthy. Although his recovery from an Achilles tear may lessen the game's intensity, it will mark Miles Turner's first return to Indianapolis after his surprising move to the Bucks this summer. Turner has expressed uncertainty about the fan reaction he will receive upon returning to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, but it will certainly be a mix of emotions. He has stated multiple times that he left the Pacers to contend for a championship with their rivals, the Bucks. Given that the Pacers just made it to the NBA Finals, this fact is unlikely to sit well with all Pacers fans, making this game worth marking on the calendar.

November 27: Warriors host Rockets

This is a rematch of the first-round playoff series, and the Rockets have strengthened their roster by trading Jalen Green for Durant, heightening the stakes. When these two teams met in last year's playoffs, the series went to seven games. The Golden State Warriors managed to avoid collapse after taking a 3-1 lead in the first four games and ultimately won. The Houston Rockets performed well in that series but did not advance. However, with Durant's addition, people will undoubtedly wonder if the outcome would have been different had he been on the team last season. We will find out the answer on November 27.

November 28: Timberwolves host Thunder

This is a rematch of the Western Conference Finals. This summer, the Timberwolves did not take significant steps to close the gap with the Thunder. In fact, Alexander-Walker has moved to the Hawks, but we cannot underestimate Anthony Edwards, who is rising as one of the league's future stars. Now that Edwards and Julius Randle have completed a full season together, they may be better equipped to challenge the Thunder. This game is part of the NBA Cup, which adds to the excitement for fans.

November 29: Lakers host Mavericks

Davis returns home to face Doncic, making this game undoubtedly one of the most anticipated matchups of the schedule. In fact, the four matchups between these two teams will all be must-watch events, especially the one on April 5, when Kyrie Irving may have fully recovered from injury, promising a truly star-studded showdown. But before that, we can first see Doncic face his former team in the NBA Cup. Doncic has transformed himself this summer, prioritizing health and successfully losing weight. He will certainly want to prove to Nico Harrison and everyone in the Dallas front office that trading him was a mistake—despite the widespread belief that it was a poor decision when the trade first occurred.

December 20: Knicks host 76ers

The 76ers hope to stay healthy this season, but the start may be challenging as Paul George underwent knee surgery this summer. His situation is expected to be reassessed before training camp, so we will see if he will actually miss the regular season. If the 76ers are fully healthy, they will pose a significant threat to the top teams in the East, including the Knicks and Cavaliers. The Knicks have the capability to compete with a healthy Joel Embiid and a deep 76ers roster. Let's not forget that the Knicks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. This game will serve as a good litmus test for the Philadelphia team to see how they are performing early in the season and what their potential ranking in the East might be.

December 26: Knicks host Cavaliers

These two teams are likely to be the best in the East this season, and this matchup could serve as a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals. There is a long way to go from their first meeting to a possible Eastern Conference Finals, but this game will give both teams a chance to gauge each other and prepare for a potential battle for the top spot in a relatively weaker Eastern Conference.

January 20: Cavaliers host Thunder

Is anyone expecting this to be a potential NBA Finals matchup? These two teams were the best performers last season, and by January, when they meet, they are likely still at the top of their game. The Cavaliers had a disappointing end to last season, losing to the Pacers in the second round, exiting earlier than anyone expected. They will still face considerable scrutiny until they at least reach the Eastern Conference Finals, but defeating the reigning champions would certainly add to their credibility.