The NBA has released its full schedule for the 2023-24 regular season, which will feature 80 games for each team, plus two TBD games that will determine the results of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. The season will tip off on October 24, 2023, and conclude on April 14, 2024, followed by the Play-In Tournament and the Playoffs. With so many exciting matchups and storylines to watch, here are the ten must-watch games on the NBA schedule for 2023-24.
Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers (October 24, 2023)
The season’s opening night will feature a 2023 Western Conference Finals rematch as the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets host the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets will receive their championship rings before the game, while the Lakers will try to spoil their celebration and avenge their playoff defeat. The game will also mark the regular-season debut of three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal with the Nuggets, who acquired him in a blockbuster trade with the Washington Wizards in the offseason. Beal will join forces with reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to form a potent offensive trio. The Lakers, meanwhile, will rely on their superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who are both healthy and motivated to reclaim their title.
Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors (October 24, 2023)
The second game of the opening night doubleheader on TNT will feature another intriguing matchup between two Western Conference contenders as the Phoenix Suns visit the Golden State Warriors. The Suns, who reached the Western Conference Semifinals last season, have added another star to their roster in Chris Paul, who signed with them as a free agent after spending three seasons with the Warriors. Paul will reunite with his former coach, Monty Williams, and join forces with Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton to form a formidable trio. On the other hand, the Warriors will welcome back Klay Thompson, who missed the entire 2022-23 season with a torn Achilles tendon. Thompson will team up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green to revive their championship aspirations.
Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks (October 25, 2023)
The first game of ESPN’s doubleheader on Wednesday night will feature a classic rivalry between two Eastern Conference teams with impressive playoff runs last season as the Boston Celtics visit the New York Knicks. The Celtics, who reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four years last season, have a new head coach in Ime Udoka, who replaced Brad Stevens after he moved to the front office. Udoka will try to maximize the potential of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who are both coming off All-Star seasons. The Knicks, who made their first playoff appearance since 2013 last season and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, have retained most of their core players and added some veterans in free agency. Julius Randle, who won the Most Improved Player award last season, will lead the way for Tom Thibodeau’s squad.
Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets (October 25, 2023)
The second game of ESPN’s doubleheader on Wednesday night will feature a potential preview of the Eastern Conference Finals as the Miami Heat visit the Brooklyn Nets. The Heat, swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs last season after reaching the NBA Finals in 2020, have retooled their roster with some big moves in the offseason. They acquired Kyle Lowry in a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Raptors and signed PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris as free agents. Lowry will join Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo to form a formidable trio that can compete with anyone in the East. The Nets, who lost to the Bucks in a thrilling seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season, have arguably the most talented roster in the league. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden are healthy and hungry for a championship, while Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge provide veteran experience and depth.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers (November 7, 2023)
The first game of TNT’s doubleheader on Tuesday night will feature a clash between two of the top teams in the East, as well as two of the best big men in the league, as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid face off when Milwaukee Bucks visit Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks are coming off their first NBA title since 1971 after defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games in the NBA Finals last season. Antetokounmpo was named Finals MVP after averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and five assists per game in the series. He is joined by Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, who both played vital roles in the Bucks’ championship run. The 76ers, who finished with the best record in the East last season but lost to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, have a new head coach in Doc Rivers, who replaced Brett Brown after seven seasons. Rivers will try to get the most out of Embiid, who finished second in MVP voting last season after averaging 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He will also try to improve the chemistry between Embiid and Ben Simmons, who has been the subject of trade rumors after struggling in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (December 25, 2023)
The marquee matchup of the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule will feature a battle for LA bragging rights as the Clippers and the Lakers face off at Staples Center. The Clippers, who reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history last season but lost to the Denver Nuggets in six games, have a new head coach in Tyronn Lue, who replaced Doc Rivers after seven seasons. Lue will try to lead the Clippers to their first NBA title with the help of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who signed contract extensions with the team in the offseason. However, Leonard is expected to miss most of the season as he recovers from a partially torn ACL he suffered in the playoffs. The Lakers, who won their 17th NBA title in 2020 but were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs last season, have made significant changes to their roster in the offseason. They traded for Russell Westbrook, who will form a superstar trio with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They also signed Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, and Wayne Ellington as free agents.
Golden State Warriors vs. Brooklyn Nets (January 18, 2024)
The first game of TNT’s doubleheader on Tuesday night will feature a showdown between two of the most explosive offensive teams in the league and a reunion between former teammates and friends, as Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant face off when Golden State Warriors visit Brooklyn Nets. The Warriors, who missed the playoffs for the second straight season last year after reaching five consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 to 2019, hope to return to contention with a healthy Klay Thompson and a revamped roster. They drafted Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody with their two lottery picks and signed Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, and Andre Iguodala as free agents. The Nets, who fell short of their championship expectations last season after losing to Milwaukee Bucks in a thrilling seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, are looking to make another run with a fully healthy roster. Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden are all back and ready to dominate, while Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge provide veteran experience and depth.
Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns (February 16, 2024)
The second game of TNT’s doubleheader on Tuesday night will feature a rematch of one of the most exciting playoff series last season, as well as a duel between two of the best centers in the league, as Nikola Jokic and Deandre Ayton face off when Denver Nuggets visit Phoenix Suns. The Nuggets, who won their first NBA title last season after defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games in the NBA Finals, are looking to defend their crown with a balanced and deep roster. Jokic, who won his first MVP award last season after averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game, is joined by Bradley Beal, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Will Barton as key contributors. The Suns, who reached their first NBA Finals since 1993 last season but fell short of their first NBA title, are looking to bounce back with a motivated and improved roster. Ayton, who averaged 15.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in playoffs last season, is joined by Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Cameron Johnson as core players.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks (March 2, 2024)
The first game of ESPN’s doubleheader on Wednesday night will feature a clash between two top teams in the East that have developed a heated rivalry over the past few seasons, as Jimmy Butler and Giannis Antetokounmpo face off when the Miami Heat visit the Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat, who have retooled their roster with some big moves in the offseason, such as acquiring Kyle Lowry and signing PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris as free agents, are looking to challenge the Bucks for Eastern Conference supremacy. Butler, who averaged 21.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and seven assists per game last season, is joined by Bam Adebayo, Lowry, Tucker, and Tyler Herro as critical players. The Bucks
