The Los Angeles Lakers revamped the roster this offseason, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves as the primary focal points for the team.
The duo will help provide the offensive firepower necessary to win games during the regular season, but it's the questions on defense that could determine how the season will play out for the team.
Second-year coach JJ Redick and the Lakers finished the 2025-26 season with a 53-29 record and in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Lakers reached the Western Conference semifinals but were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The roster was plagued with injuries throughout the season, with LeBron James, Reaves and Doncic all missing portions of the year.
With new pieces around star players, there will still be an expectation that the season will be defined by whether or not the franchise wins its 18th championship.
Here are some of the key games that will help shape the Lakers’ season:
Lakers’ key games for 2026-27 season
Golden State Warriors at Lakers, Oct. 21 (Opening night)
- The Lakers will host the Warriors at home to open the season. It will set an early tone for what a healthy roster could look like for the purple and yellow.
Lakers at San Antonio Spurs, Nov. 27
- The Lakers visit Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs for their first true test of the season against a Western Conference contender.
Philadelphia 76ers at Lakers, Dec. 25 (Christmas)
- LeBron James returns to Los Angeles, where he had spent the past eight seasons of his career. The 76ers are expected to be one of the top contenders in the East. It will be the first of two meetings between the teams.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Lakers, Jan. 1
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder will present one of the toughest challenges for the Lakers this season. The series includes three games, but they won’t take place until the back half of the season.
Boston Celtics vs. Lakers, Jan. 7
- The Lakers will host the rival Celtics in a featured game on Prime. It will be just the first of two games on the schedule between the two teams. The second game will happen in Boston.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers schedule: Notable games that will shape 2026-27 season