NBA 2024-25 season opening night games leaked. Who plays who?

With opening night of the 2024-25 NBA season set for October 22nd, there has been quite a great deal of chatter about what we can expect. Naturally, having just seen some of the Game’s biggest stars win a gold medal in Paris with Team USA, fans of the Game have only increased their speculation, which is precisely why an early leak of some of the opening Games only serves to intensify it all.

Who plays who on the opening night of the 2024-25 NBA Season?

Never one to stay out of the mix, The Athletic’s Shams Charania chimed in with what appears to be a well-timed leak on Monday, reporting on a selection of games that we will see on the opening night of the 2024-25 NBA season this coming October. According to Charania, NBA fans will be treated to games that will feature this past season’s NBA Finalists, namely contests between the reigning champions Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, and this past season’s surprise package, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Of course, where the Celtics are concerned, the fact that they will be in action on opening night is no surprise as it matches with tradition. Indeed, the league’s champions typically play at home on the first night of a new season where they also receive their championship rings. Given that the Celtics are fresh off a record 18th title, we imagine that’s going to be quite a show and one that the Knicks will likely not enjoy.

Now, it’s true that one could be forgiven for questioning why the Dallas Mavericks, last year’s Western Conference champions, won’t get to play on opening night, but on the other hand, one can also imagine the league saw value in allowing LeBron James and his Lakers to take on the Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards who shows all signs of being the heir to the throne.

It’s also worth noting that other games from the schedule have been leaked as well, such as the above-mentioned Celtics and Mavericks meeting each other in a rematch of the NBA Finals on January 25th in Texas. That game will be followed by another dance not long after on February 6th at the TD Garden in Boston. We’ve also got the highly anticipated return of now former Golden State Warriors star, Klay Thompson, to the Bay Area after his offseason trade to the said-same Dallas Mavericks.

Mention should also be made of the Los Angeles Clippers who will christen their new home this coming campaign. Indeed, the Clippers shelled out over $2 billion to construct the arena that they will now play in. They will face the Phoenix Suns on October 23rd. Lastly, we have the Milwaukee Bucks who will travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers on October 23rd as well. Both teams came up short last season after injuries to their stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid respectively, They’ll be eager to do better this year. Where the full schedule is concerned, the NBA will be making its official release of the entire slate later this month so as we always say, watch this space.