The NBA has announced the opening night schedule for the 2026-27 season, featuring LeBron James’ Philadelphia 76ers making their debut against the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. ET.
The 76ers’ revamped roster, which includes James and newly acquired Jaylen Brown, will face the Knicks in the first of three games on opening night. The NBA season will begin earlier in the day with the Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons at 3 p.m. ET and conclude with the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Key Matchups and Context
The Knicks-76ers game is a rematch of the 2026 Eastern Conference semifinals, where New York swept Philadelphia in four games. The 76ers enter the 2026-27 season with significant roster changes, including the additions of James and Brown, who was acquired from the Celtics in a blockbuster trade. Philadelphia’s reported starting lineup features VJ Edgecomb, Tyrese Maxey, Brown, James, and Joel Embiid, forming a highly anticipated five-man unit.
The 76ers’ opening night opponent, the Knicks, return most of their championship-winning core, with the exception of Mitchell Robinson, who signed a three-year, $47.38 million contract with the Celtics. New York’s roster remains largely intact, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat also highlighted in the league’s Thanksgiving Eve schedule.
NBA Cup and Thanksgiving Eve Games
In addition to the opening night slate, the NBA unveiled a Thanksgiving Eve triple-header on Nov. 25, featuring James and the 76ers facing the Heat at 5 p.m. ET as part of the Emirates NBA Cup. The tournament’s group play begins Oct. 30, with knockout rounds in November and the championship game scheduled for Dec. 11 at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The Thanksgiving Eve matchup holds added significance as James previously won two NBA championships with the Heat during his tenure with the franchise. The 76ers’ acquisition of James and Brown has reshaped the Eastern Conference landscape, with both teams now positioned as title contenders.
The league’s schedule also includes a marquee matchup between Anthony Edwards’ Minnesota Timberwolves and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs vs. Damian Lillard’s Portland Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.