NBA schedule release: Budding rivalries, playoff rematches, Olympic payback highlight best games in 2024-25

The 2024-25 NBA schedule is being released at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 16, meaning it's time to get your Sharpies out to mark your calendars.

After a thrilling NBA Playoffs ended with the Celtics capturing an NBA-record 18th NBA title, the season opens with Boston receiving its championship rings before taking on its rivals from New York. Ahead of the schedule release, NBA insiders revealed opening night and Christmas schedules, but there are even more games to look forward to during the regular season.

The Sporting News takes a look at 10 games you won't want to miss during the 2024-25 NBA season.

MORE: Updated NBA power rankings after Summer League and Olympics

10 best games on the 2024-25 NBA schedule

Spurs vs. Thunder

Date: Oct. 30

The individual rivalry between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren will be fun to watch for years to come. There appears to be mutual respect and also a level of competitiveness that makes the two really go at one another.

Add in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander going against former teammate Chris Paul, and you've got a budding rivalry with layers.

Magic vs. Cavaliers

Date: Nov. 1

The last time these two teams met, Orlando led by as many as 18 points in the first half of Game 7 of the opening round of the playoffs. The veteran Cavaliers team would claw back to advance to the East semifinals with a 12-point win.

Naturally, that swing has been on the mind of the Magic all offseason. Paolo Banchero's Year 3 leap could see Orlando jump into the contender realm but Cleveland made some tweaks and is looking to stay among the Eastern Conference elite.

Warriors vs. Celtics

Date: Nov. 6

The 2022 NBA Finals rematch has even more spice after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Fresh off of his first-ever NBA title, Jayson Tatum was in and out of Steve Kerr's rotation as Team USA went for gold. Add in the omission of Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, and Boston's star duo may be out to prove a point against USA Basketball's lead man.

But as we learned in 2022 , Stephen Curry stands in the way.

MORE: Why Jayson Tatum didn't play against Serbia during the Olympics

Mavericks vs. Nuggets

Date: Nov. 10

Who's the best player in the NBA? Luka Doncic came close to overtaking the claim with Dallas' run to the NBA Finals, but as of now, Nikola Jokic still sits atop the throne.

The two friends bring the best out of one another and this year's regular-season series could have a hand in deciding who is the league's best.

Knicks vs. 76ers

Date: Nov. 12

After last year's playoff series, the Knicks-76ers rivalry is getting back to where it once was during the old days.

With Mikal Bridges on board, New York now features a quartet of players who starred collegiately in Philadelphia and feel very comfortable at the Wells Fargo Center. Throw Paul George into the rivalry, and there's a lot of star power between teams that aren't too far from one another geographically.

MORE: What you need to know about the start of 2024-25 NBA season

Timberwolves vs. Suns

Date: Nov. 17

Anthony Edwards vs. Kevin Durant is the perfect idols-turned-rivals-turned-teammates storyline.

Throughout Minnesota's four-game sweep of Phoenix in the opening round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Edwards let anyone and everyone know that the future is now and time is up for the older generation. At the Olympics, however, Edwards made it clear that he still idolizes Durant.

The first meeting between the teams shouldn't disappoint.

Pacers vs. Bucks

Date: Nov. 22

There are playoff rematches and playoff rematches with extra meaning. This one has extra meaning.

Milwaukee and Indiana met 11 times last season, with games coming during the In-Season Tournament as well as a six-game series in the NBA Playoffs. The shorthanded Bucks came up short during the playoffs and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard & Co. will look to get revenge on Tyrese Haliburton's squad.

Grizzlies vs. Pelicans

Date: Nov. 29

Even though Zion Williamson went down in the Play-In Tournament, New Orleans snuck into the playoffs last year and had a splashy offseason headlined by the acquisition of Dejounte Murray. The Grizzlies had a down year but drafted Zach Edey and will get Ja Morant back from injury.

Morant and Williamson will always be linked to one another, and these Memphis-New Orleans matchups could go a long way in determining the tiers in the West.

Rockets vs. Kings

Date: Dec. 3

Houston came on strong toward the end of the 2023-24 season and will be a real threat to qualify for the 2025 postseason. Sacramento came up short in the Play-In Tournament and now adds DeMar DeRozan to a roster that was decimated by injuries at the season's end.

Both the Rockets and Kings should have postseason aspirations next season. Their meetings will be a display of star power and grit.

Lakers vs. Clippers

Date: Jan. 19

After 25 years of sharing the same arena, the Lakers and Clippers have their own space. For that reason, the Lakers' first trip to Inglewood to face the Clippers at the Intuit Dome will be a notable one.

LeBron James finally got over the hump of defeating Tyronn Lue during the 2023-24 season but will purple and gold dominate the new arena the same way it dominated Clippers home games at Crypto.com Arena?

MORE: Highlighting the best features of the Clippers new arena