The 2026-27 NBA regular season is only two months away, but the schedule has still not been announced.
However, we already know that there will likely be two blockbuster games on the opening night and five on Christmas Day.
NBA Analysis has predicted which teams will be involved on both occasions, including LeBron James facing the New York Knicks.
Opening Night
Philadelphia 76ers @ New York Knicks
The defending champions, the New York Knicks, will almost certainly kick off the 2026-27 season at Madison Square Garden.
The real question is which team will the Knicks welcome to the ‘Mecca of Basketball’ on opening night.
The obvious answer is LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers – the team that everyone is excited to watch this season.
Not only will the 76ers be box-office entertainment, but LeBron would have joined the Knicks if they had not won the title.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs
A repeat of the Western Conference Finals would appear an excellent option for the second opening-night game.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs are expected to be among the league’s best teams again this season.
Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama are the top two favourites to win the Most Valuable Player award.
Christmas Day
San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks
The NBA should look no further than the 2026 NBA Finals matchup (Knicks vs Spurs) for one of the Christmas Day slots.
The Spurs will be desperate for some revenge after losing the Finals in five games, and the Knicks will want to prove it was no fluke.
By Christmas, Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson may also be looking to strengthen their MVP cases in the marquee fixture.
Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics
The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics are both expected to be among the leading contenders in the Eastern Conference.
While both teams lack the depth of the Knicks or the 76ers, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum are MVP-caliber stars.
Not to mention, they would have been playing together if the Celtics had been more ambitious in trade talks with the Milwaukee Bucks.
This Christmas Day clash would give us a better sense of which team could reach the NBA Finals next June.
Philadelphia 76ers @ Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James has been a permanent fixture in the NBA’s Christmas Day slate for many years, and 2026 should be no different.
While his games against the Cleveland Cavaliers are always exciting, his first return to the Los Angeles Lakers will be fascinating.
James will surely get an incredible reception inside Crypto.com Arena, and he might want to prove a point to the Lakers owners.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves would also get a chance to show they are better without the 41-year-old.
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets
The Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets have become rivals after several recent playoff battles.
They have met in the Western Conference playoffs in three of the last four seasons, with the Timberwolves winning the last two.
Rudy Gobert is one of the only players capable of slowing down Nikola Jokic, while Anthony Edwards and Jamal Murray can also match each other step for step.
Houston Rockets @ Golden State Warriors
It would not be Christmas Day without Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors playing an old rival.
It used to be LeBron James and the Cavaliers, but this year it should be Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.
Although they never seem to age, this could even be the last season that Curry and Durant are still top-tier players.
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