The Los Angeles Lakers will host Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Oct. 21 — the second night of the NBA season — as part of the league’s Opening Week primetime slate. This is the first time since the 2018-19 season that L.A. will not be a part of the Opening Night scheduling.
The Lakers and Warriors took opposite approaches to their offseasons before arranging an Opening Week meeting. L.A. reset their entire roster around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, parting ways with six significant contributors from last season’s team. The Warriors, meanwhile, are bringing back nearly the exact same collection of players they ended last season with.
Doncic and the Lakers open their season at home against Curry and the Warriors at 7:00 p.m. PT as part of an ESPN doubleheader. The first game of the night features two teams with new looks. Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves — with LaMelo Ball in tow — head to South Beach to play Giannis Antetokounmpo in his first game as a member of the Miami Heat. That game tips at 4:30 p.m. PT.
L.A. was left out of the Opening Night scheduling for the first time in eight seasons due to the undeniable pairing of the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs taking the Western Conference opener. The two teams formed an incredible rivalry last season, resulting in a grueling, seven-game Western Conference Finals that the Spurs walked away from victorious. The rivalry should only grow as the two teams get one year older and better.
Meanwhile, LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers were a lock to appear, and had to do so against the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks for banner night.
The full NBA Opening Week schedule with four days of primetime games can be seen below.
Full 2026 NBA Opening Week primetime slate
Tuesday, October 20
Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
12:00 p.m. PT, NBC/Peacock
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
4:00 p.m. PT, NBC/Peacock
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
6:30 p.m. PT, NBC/Peacock
Wednesday, October 21
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Miami Heat
Kaseya Center, Miami, FL
4:30 p.m. PT, ESPN
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
7:00 p.m. PT, ESPN
Thursday, October 22
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
4:00 p.m. PT, ESPN
Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
6:30 p.m. PT, ESPN
Friday, October 23
New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics
TD Garden, Boston, MA
4:00 p.m. PT, Prime
Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
6:30 p.m. PT, Prime
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