The 15 best games on the NBA schedule

The NBA isn’t dumb. The first game of the regular season sees perhaps the two best teams in the Eastern Conference squaring off. Boston and Philly have a ton of young talent, and hopefully this time Gordon Hayward will stay healthy through an entire game. It’s also a chance to potentially see Markelle Fultz in action.

Immediately following that Celtics-76ers game comes this beauty. This is the Warriors first game, and first home game, after winning yet another title. Golden State’s home opener was going to be a must-see regardless, but the fact the Thunder are involved makes it even better. Russell Westbrook is always fun to watch, and you may have heard that he and Kevin Durant used to know each other pretty well.

The Suns and Mavericks may not be good teams, but they each have one of the two most exciting rookies for the upcoming season. Phoenix drafted Deandre Ayton first overall, keeping the Arizona Wildcats center close to his alma mater. However, the rookie enticing us most is European wunderkind Luka Doncic. He alone could be worth checking out.

Hey have you heard that LeBron James is a Laker now? James and Co. are playing their first game on the road, but then they head to Staples Center for LeBron’s debut in front of his newfound fans. Everybody is intrigued about seeing King James in purple and gold, but the Rockets are a fun team to watch as well.

Last year, Portland surprised some by grabbing the third seed in the Western Conference. Then, the Pelicans went and swept them in the first round. Here’s the Blazers’ chance to get revenge and also a chance for us to watch Damian Lillard and Anthony Davis take the court.

This has been arguably the NBA’s best rivalry for a few seasons, and that’s not going to change. The Rockets are built to try and upset the Warriors, and if not for a Chris Paul injury they may have done it last year. There’s so much talent on these rosters, led by MVP winners James Harden, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant.

The Cavaliers aren’t going to be good this year. Most nights, they won’t be worth watching. However, this will be LeBron’s first game back in Cleveland after leaving (again). For one night, all eyes will be on the Cavs.

Christmas is always a marquee day for the NBA. There are going to be a few games worth watching while you open presents and hang out with your family. If you can watch only one, though, go with the Warriors and the Lakers. Though Los Angeles doesn’t quite have the talent yet to compete with Golden State, it’s LeBron vs. his nemesis from the last few seasons. Happy holidays, indeed.

Kawhi Leonard was going to be the new face of the San Antonio Spurs. Then he ran afoul of the organization, and next thing we all knew, he was traded to the Raptors. His return to his old stomping grounds for this game is going to be interesting. Plus, DeMar DeRozan will also be facing his old team. It’s not all about Kawhi.

You can’t just watch the same few teams day in and day out. Sometimes it pays to mix it up. Blake Griffin will be in Los Angeles to face his old team in this contest. Plus, neither of these teams are likely to be bad. It will be a chance to see a couple of potential All-Stars in Griffin and Andre Drummond, and the Clippers have an intriguing lineup worth checking out once.

Sometimes it’s fun to watch a physical freak who can dominate a game by himself. This game has two such players. We’re talking Russell Westbrook and Giannis Antetokounmpo going head-to-head. Plus, by this point, we will know whether or not Mike Budenholzer was able to take the Bucks to the next level. Let’s not forget Paul George either.

The Lakers and Celtics were already an iconic rivalry. Now, LeBron is a Laker, which kicks things up a notch. Oh, and Kyrie Irving is a Celtic, and it’s always interesting when he and James share the court. The rivalry is alive!

The Sixers and Bucks have a ton of talent and are young teams on the rise. Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Giannis — the list of exciting players goes on. Since this game is in April, that could also mean it will have playoff positioning implications. That would certainly add another level of intrigue to this matchup.

Dwyane Wade never should have left the Heat. He was the face of the franchise for many years in his Hall of Fame career. Wade has announced he will be retiring after this season. This could be his last home game, depending on whether or not the Heat make the playoffs. Even if they do, this will definitely be the night to celebrate everything he’s meant to the franchise.

April 10 is the final day of the NBA season. We’ve all got our fingers crossed a playoff spot will still be up in the air. Ideally, it would happen out west, where the better teams are. This is speculation, but the Nuggets and Timberwolves could be fighting each other to make the postseason. Even if they aren’t, it should be a good game. Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns are two dynamic young big men you should get to know better.