What Are the Best Games of the 2026-27 NBA Season? Top Matchups, Finals Previews, LeBron's season with 76ers

It's like Christmas in August. The full 2026-27 NBA Season has been released, all 1,230 games. It's a lot, so we've broken out the best games, the can't-miss games, the appointment-viewing games from the full NBA schedule to make it a little easier. Here are the days and games you need to circle on the calendar. Opening Night, Oct. 20 There are three games, all exclusively on NBC and Peacock — including LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers coming to Madison Square Garden on Ring Night to spoil the party. We also get the first San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City showdown of the season. • Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons (3 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) • Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks (7 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) • Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) Curry vs. Jokic The Warriors vs. the Nuggets is the first game of the season exclusively on Peacock and features two of the league's biggest stars, Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic. • Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets (10 p.m. ET, Peacock) Jaylen Brown returns to Boston Jaylen Brown makes his much-anticipated return to Boston to face Jayson Tatum and the only team he had ever known on Jan. 21. Brown's first game against his former team comes on Nov. 10, but in the comfort of home in Philadelphia — and you can see it on NBC and Peacock. • Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers (Nov. 10, 8 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) • Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video) • Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers (Feb. 27, 8 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) Antetokounmpo returns to Milwaukee The biggest game of the season for the Bucks comes on Jan. 28 when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat come to town — Antetokounmpo's return to Milwaukee. What kind of reception will he get? It should be nothing but love, like he showed the city for so long and in bringing it a championship. • Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (Jan. 28, 9:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video). LaMelo returns to Charlotte LaMelo Ball returns to Charlotte on Presidents' Day, Feb. 15, 2027, with a game you can watch on NBC and Peacock. Expect him to feel the love from the crowd. Also that day, Victor Wembanyama vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo. • Minnesota Timberwolves at Charlotte Hornets (12 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) • San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat (5 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) Ja Morant returns to Memphis Morant was a fan favorite and will feel the love despite wearing a new uniform. • Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies (Feb. 6, 5:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video) Christmas Day It's the NBA's showcase day, and this is a must-watch lineup of games where you can plop yourself in front of the television and enjoy while wearing that new sweater from your uncle. It starts off with an NBA Finals rematch and is highlighted by LeBron James' return to Los Angeles. • San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks (12 p.m.m. ET, ABC and ESPN) • Miami Heat at Boston Celtics (2:30 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN). • Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers (5 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN) • Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves (8 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN) • Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN) Dybantsa vs. Peterson The first meeting of the No. 1 and No. 2 picks from last June's draft — Washington's A.J. Dybantsa and Utah's Darren Peterson — doesn't come until February, but it should be worth the wait. • Washington Wizards at Utah Jazz (Feb. 27, 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video) Sunday Night Basketball Sunday Night Basketball — the marquee game of the week, highlighted on Sunday night — returns to NBC on Jan. 24 and continues through the rest of the season. That first game is can't-miss. • Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors (Jan. 24, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) 2027 NBA All-Star Weekend The NBA All-Star Game — and the entire weekend of events — descends upon Phoenix this year, from Feb. 19-21 (the All-Star Game is on the 21st). Friday night will feature the Rising Stars Game. Saturday, Feb. 20, will be All-Star Saturday Night with the 3-Point Contest, Dunk Contest, and more. The All-Star Game itself is on Feb. 21. The entire weekend of events will be exclusively broadcast on NBC and Peacock. NBA Cup title game A year ago, the New York Knicks won the NBA Cup then went on to win the NBA title. Two years ago, Oklahoma City made the NBA Cup Finals then went on to win the NBA title. Tune in to see which team looks like a champion. This year's title game will be played at Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. • NBA Cup championship game, Dec. 11, Prime Video. Doncic vs. Durant Luka Doncic vs. Kevin Durant. Two iconic stars. Two teams trying to prove they belong at the top of the West. Watch it on Nov. 30, exclusively on Peacock. • Los Ángeles Lakers at Houston Rockets (7:30 p.m. ET, Peacock). Nikola Jokic in Madison Square Garden Playing in Madison Square Garden brings out the best in players, and when Nikola Jokic is putting on a show there is nothing like it. Tune in Jan. 11, 2027, exclusively on Peacock. • Denver Nuggets at New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. ET, Peacock) Wembanyama in Paris Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are playing two international games this season, each against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. Wemby in Paris is worth tuning in for, and the second game will be the NBA's first-ever game in Manchester, England (a place the league hopes to put an NBA Europe team). • New Orleans Pelicans at San Antonio Spurs in Paris (Jan. 14, 2 p.m. ET, Prime Video) • San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans in Manchester (Jan. 17, 10:30 a.am. ET, Prime Video) Martin Luther King Jr. Day NBC and Peacock will broadcast a four-game slate on Jan. 18, 2027, the day honoring the civil rights leader. It includes the traditional games taking place in Atlanta and Memphis. • Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers (12 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) • Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) • Minnesota Timberwolves at New York Knicks (5 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) • Houston Rockets at Memphis Grizzlies (7:30 p.m. ET, Peacock) Lakers vs. Celtics The most historic rivalry in the NBA is renewed, this year between two quality teams. • Los Ángeles Lakers at Boston Celtics (Feb. 2, 8 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) Knicks vs. Thunder Finals preview? New York and Oklahoma City might have met in last year's NBA Finals if the Thunder had been healthy — and we could well see that matchup this season. Tune in for this potential Finals preview on Sunday Night Basketball. • New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder (Feb. 7, 9:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock) Durant vs. Antetokounmpo Another Sunday Night Basketball gem featuring two of the greatest bucket-getters the game has ever seen, Kevin Durant vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo. • Miami Heat at Houston Rockets (Feb. 28, p:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock. Finals Rematch Getting late into the season, we get a rematch of last season's NBA Finals — and potentially a preview of a repeat. All of it on Sunday Night Basketball. (The teams also meet on Christmas Day.) • New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs (March 7, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock).