NBA Season 2023–24 will begin on October 18. The NBA’s goal was to create an early season start and rivals in the late season, the 2023–24 schedule will provide every opportunity for that to happen. One season marks the start of in-season tournaments, so there will be meaningful games from opening night through mid-December. The debut of rookie Victor Wembanyama and the thrilling opening week of matches with Christmas Day games will be a must-watch.
Here’s a list of 10 must-watch games in the early season:
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks
It is not very often that a team that won just 22 games in the previous season plays in the opening game of the new season. But the debut of Victor Wembanyama is something NBA fans have been eagerly waiting for. The match between the Spurs and Mavericks will take place on October 25. Already being called “The Next Big Thing,” it will debut on this day, and the anticipation will be very high.
LA Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns
The last time LeBron James and Kevin Durant faced off was in 2018 on Christmas Day. Both players will clash after almost five years when their teams play against each other on October 26. Both missed each other several times, and this was mainly due to injuries suffered by Durant. Eventually, the time will come just before Halloween, and hopefully NBA fans will get a gift instead of being duped again. Last season, Durant was all set to face James on March 22 after being traded to Phoenix, but then he suffered an ankle injury during pregame warm-ups, so the reunion got canceled.
Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors
The schedule makers did an amazing job by setting up this match, as we will get to see Chris Paul and the Suns together on the floor, but this time on different benches. Paul was unofficially dumped for Bradley Bear over the summer, and this will offer a preview of the future for both players. Paul is still chasing the elusive championship, so making an opening statement against a strong contender like Phoenix will be a good measuring tool for him. Both teams will face each other on October 24.
LA Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets
This match will be a replay of the 2023 Western Conference Finals, which wasn’t actually contested last spring. The teams will face each other on October 24. The Nuggets swept the Lakers in the offseason, and during that process, coach Michael Malone continually emphasized the public’s fascination with the Lakers and Denver’s perceived disrespect. This carried through and attracted attention at the celebration of the Nugget’s championship win. Now the LA Lakers will get an early chance to strike out at the championship and earn some satisfaction.
Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics
There are still many NBA enthusiasts in Boston who can’t believe that the Celtics lost Game 7 at home to Miami last spring and their chance to advance to the NBA finals. The Celtics were big favorites then, but the Miami Heat’s victory in the non-finals was definitely the biggest in their history. Now, when the teams face each other on October 27, the game will be even more meaningful if the Heat manage to make a big trade and acquire a certain player from the Western Conference.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. New Orleans Pelicans
This match will take place on December 19, and this will be game No. 26 for the Grizzlies, meaning it is the first match that Ja Morant will be eligible to play after serving his 25-game suspension. This match night will tell many things, like where the Grizzlies stand in the table. How much did trading for Marcus Smart reduce the team’s loss of a franchise player? and will Morant rustle up or be ready to go?
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks
This match will take place on October 30. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed just over two games of their first-round series with Miami last spring. And Butler became Milwaukee’s king—he went to school at Marquette—as Miami came away with a 4-1 series victory. This matchup is three games into Buck’s season, and Antetokounmpo will miss FIBA due to surgery on his left knee earlier this year. He is expected to return for training camp.
Washington Wizards vs. Golden State Warriors
On December 22, NBA fans will witness the match between the Wizards and Warriors, and this will be the first game between Poole and his former teammates, which would be the most scrutinized player-to-player acknowledgment in recent NBA history. One thing that is assured is that Poole will receive a warm welcome from his fans because of his performance in helping the Warriors win the championship two years ago.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Phoenix Suns
Luka Doncic and Devin Booker have a history, so this match will be an interesting one to see, which will make Christmas Day even more special. It’s a huge regular-season platform to give Doncic a chance to annoy his old friends. Doncic vs. Booker is only the undercard, but the main event will be Kyrie Irving being on the same floor with Durant but in different jerseys. Since Brooklyn split up, both teams faced off in March for the first time. On December 25, it will be a good time to watch these teams clash.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic vs. Joel Embiid is the only reason enough to watch this match on January 27. These two players are almost guaranteed to put on an interesting show no matter when and where they play.
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