2024-25 NBA Season Preview

With the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics, basketball fans are now eagerly anticipating the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season. Opening night is scheduled for Oct. 22, with exciting matchups between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, as well as the Minnesota Timberwolves facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers, as reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Last season, the Celtics clinched their league-leading 18th championship by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games. As is customary, the defending champions will have the honor of playing at home on opening night. The Celtics will celebrate their victory by receiving their championship rings and raising another banner at TD Garden as they take on the Knicks.

Despite the Mavericks winning the Western Conference last season, they will not be featured on opening night. Instead, the spotlight will be on LeBron James and the Lakers as they go head-to-head against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, potentially the future face of the league.

While the full schedule is yet to be released, some notable games have already been leaked:

Two Finals Rematches

• Celtics at Mavericks, Jan. 25
• Mavericks at Celtics, Feb. 6

The Celtics and Mavericks will meet again for the first time since the 2024 Finals on Jan. 25 in Dallas, followed by a rematch in Boston on Feb. 6. Teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences only play each other twice a season under the current NBA schedule format.

Thompson’s Return to the Bay Area

Klay Thompson’s decision to leave the Golden State Warriors and join the Dallas Mavericks this offseason may not have been surprising, but it will be emotional to see him in a new uniform this season. Thompson will make his first return to the Bay Area on Nov. 12 for what is sure to be a poignant moment.

Clippers Opening Their New Arena

• Suns at Clippers, Oct. 23

After sharing Crypto.com Arena with the Lakers for over two decades, the Clippers will finally debut their own state-of-the-art arena, the Intuit Dome, this season. The Clippers will play their first regular-season game at the Intuit Dome against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 23.

Sixers to Open Against Bucks

Following disappointing first-round playoff exits due to injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid, the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers will kick off the new season against each other in Philadelphia on Oct. 23, hoping for a better campaign ahead.