Report: Durant’s Rockets, West contenders headline NBA’s opening night, Christmas slate

The NBA determined its marquee matchups for its opening night and Christmas Day slates, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Friday.

Opening night of the 2025-26 season features Kevin Durant making his Houston Rockets debut against Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder in a potential Western Conference finals preview. The Thunder are expected to receive their championship rings before the game.

The Golden State Warriors will also visit the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103 on opening night last season.

There will be five Christmas Day games this season. The matchups include:

– Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks

– San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder

– Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers

– Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors

– Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets

The Cavaliers and Knicks are the only Eastern Conference teams playing on Christmas. Cleveland finished as the No. 1 seed in the East, while New York reached the Eastern Conference Final before losing in seven games to the Indiana Pacers.

The Pacers and the Boston Celtics are notable omissions, likely due to the Achilles injuries suffered by Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum.

Meanwhile in the Western Conference, there is no shortage of star power. Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Both teams are familiar to the holiday grind after playing on Christmas in 2024.

Cooper Flagg, the 2025 No. 1-overall pick, will make his Christmas debut when the Mavs face Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Curry scored a game-high 38 points in a 115-113 loss to the Lakers last Christmas.

Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season may end up being the only year that doesn’t include the French phenom in the holiday action. The seven-foot-three centre will lead his San Antonio Spurs against the defending champion Thunder. Wembanyama finished with 42 points, 18 rebounds, and four blocks in a 117-114 loss to the Knicks last Christmas.