The NBA announced its opening night and Christmas Day schedules on Thursday, giving us a number of massive matchups to start the year and keep us glued to our couches on Christmas. The big game is a holiday showdown between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. But before we get to that, here’s what you can expect to watch during the first few nights of the NBA season:
The #KiaTipOff17 National TV Schedule!
10/17: BOS/CLE, HOU/GSW 💍
10/18: PHI/WAS, MIN/SAS
10/19: NYK/OKC, LAC/LAL
10/20: CLE/MIL, GSW/NOP pic.twitter.com/68D6PPsj6c— NBA (@NBA) August 10, 2017
While all of these are huge — especially a fascinating matchup to start the year between the Warriors and the Houston Rockets, which will give us our first look at a Chris Paul-James Harden backcourt — the headliner is the rematch of the last three NBA Finals set for Christmas Day.
Who is playing for the Cavaliers by then is anybody’s guess, as the trade rules that could currently be holding up a Kyrie Irving trade out of Cleveland would be resolved by then.
The slate is full of other exciting options if Warriors/Cavs bores you at this point.
The 2017 #NBAXmas Day Schedule!
12et: Sixers/Knicks
3et: Cavs/Warriors
5:30et: Wizards/Celtics
8et: Rockets/Thunder
10:30et: TWolves/Lakers pic.twitter.com/gELqXUNMY0— NBA (@NBA) August 10, 2017
The NBA has tried its best to own Christmas Day over the last few years the way that the NFL has made its Thanksgiving Day slate a massive deal. Considering the list of games that we’re going to see on Dec. 25 this year, it’s safe to say that the NBA is giving us a wonderful gift this Christmas.
