The 2018-19 NBA schedule is finally here. The league released the games, dates, times and TV info for each team on Friday starting with opening night games between the 76ers at the Celtics, followed by the Thunder at the NBA champion Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 16.
There are plenty of great games for each team, so let's take a look at each team's highlights from the schedule release.
Click here for the entire 2018-19 NBA Schedule
- The new era of Hawks basketball with Trae Young will start on Wednesday, Oct. 17, when they head north to New York City to take on the Knicks.
- Atlanta will welcome back longtime Hawks legend (not really) Carmelo Anthony on Tuesday, March 19, when they host Anthony's new squad, the Rockets.
- For the second straight season, the Celtics will play in the very first game. This time around, they'll take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, Oct. 16 in a rematch of last season's second-round playoff matchup.
- A few days later, on Friday, Oct. 19 we'll see what could be a preview of the Eastern Conference finals, as the Celtics travel to Toronto to take on Kawhi Leonard and the new-look Raptors.
- On Christmas, the Celtics will once again host the Sixers in a marquee national TV game. Both of these teams played on Christmas last season as well, though not against each other.
- On Wednesday, Oct. 17, the Hornets will get their 2018-19 campaign underway with a tough test at home against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
- After their worst season in over a decade, the Bulls had quite a busy summer. They'll get a chance to showcase their new squad in a national TV matchup with the 76ers on Thursday, Oct. 18.
- Jabari Parker will make his first trip back to Milwaukee when the Bulls head north to take on the Bucks on Friday, Nov. 16.
- We won't have to wait long for LeBron James' return to Cleveland. The Lakers will travel to play the Cavs on Wednesday, Nov. 21, just a little over a month into the season.
- Luka Doncic's debut with the Mavericks will come on Wednesday, Oct. 17, when his club takes on the Suns and No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton.
- The Mavs will be on the road in San Antonio for what could be Dirk Nowitzki's final regular-season game. They'll take on the Spurs on Wednesday, April 10.
- The Nuggets' quest to end their playoff drought will begin on the road, as they travel to L.A. to take on the Clippers on Wednesday, Oct. 17.
- Dwane Casey's first regular season game in charge of the Pistons will be at home on Wednesday, Oct. 17 when they welcome the Nets.
- The Warriors will once again play on opening night, and this time it will be a rivalry game as they take on Russell Westbrook and the Thunder on Tuesday, Oct. 16. Prior to this game, the Warriors will receive their championship rings.
- Later on opening week, the Warriors will travel to Salt Lake City to go up against one of the league's rising stars: Donovan Mitchell. That game is set for Friday, Oct. 19.
- In what should come as little surprise, the Warriors will also headline the Christmas Day schedule. Once again it will be a matchup with LeBron James, but this time he'll be rocking a Lakers uniform.
- Another of the Warriors' meetings with LeBron and the Lakers is set for a holiday showcase. The second one is set for MLK Day in Los Angeles.
- It's been an interesting offseason for the Rockets, and we'll get to see how their new additions -- including Carmelo Anthony fit together on Wednesday, Oct. 17, when they open their season against the Pelicans.
- A few days later, on Saturday, Oct. 20 the Rockets will travel to Los Angeles for a clash against LeBron James and his new-look Lakers.
- The very next day, Sunday, Oct. 21, the Rockets will return to Staples Center for another national TV game, this time against the Clippers -- who will also have a very different looking roster.
- Another Christmas, another game for James Harden and Co. Interestingly, they'll once again be taking on the Thunder, who they lost to last Christmas.
- As one of the league's best teams, the Rockets have a number of marquee dates, and that includes MLK Day, when they'll travel to Philly to take on Ben Simmons and the Sixers.
- The Pacers made a number of additions this summer, and their new squad will get their first test on Wednesday, Oct. 17 against the Grizzlies.
- Now that DeAndre Jordan has left for the Mavericks, the Lob City era is completely over for the Clippers. We'll get a first national TV look at their new direction on Sunday, Oct. 21 when they host the Rockets.
- LeBron James will make his return to Cleveland on Nov. 21 when the Cavaliers play host to the Lakers for the only time this season, according to a report. Story
- The NBA announced LeBron James will make his highly-anticipated Lakers debut on Thursday, Oct. 18 at Portland. Two days later, on Saturday, Oct. 20 James will play his first game in Los Angeles, when the Lakers play host to the Rockets.
- As expected, James and the Lakers will be featured on Christmas Day when they face the Warriors. It is the fourth consecutive season a team with James will face the Warriors on Dec. 25.
- As the place of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, it's only fitting that the Grizzlies would host a game on MLK Day. This season, they'll be taking on the Pelicans.
- The Heat will have a tough start to the season, as they'll begin with a road back-to-back. First, they'll take on the Magic on Wednesday, Oct. 17, then they'll travel to Washington D.C. to play the Wizards on Thursday, Oct. 18.
- In their first national TV appearance of the season, the Bucks will be at home on ESPN to battle another of the East's top teams: the 76ers.
- The longest Christmas Day drought in the NBA is over. For the first time in 41 years, the Bucks will suit up on Dec. 25. And they'll do it at The World's Most Famous Arena, where they'll meet the Knicks.
- Jimmy Butler, Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins will start their second season together on Wednesday, Oct. 17 with a road game against the Spurs.
- DeMarcus Cousins is gone, but the Pelicans still have Anthony Davis. And we'll get to see him and the rest of their new squad, including Julius Randle and Elfrid Payton, for the first time on Wednesday, Oct. 17 in Houston.
- Additionally, the Pelicans will be showcased on MLK Day, with an evening matchup against the Grizzlies.
- Game one for the Knicks, and their top draft pick Kevin Knox, will be on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at home. They'll be facing Trae Young and the Hawks.
- The Knicks' power as a premier brand in the league has been proved once again. Even though Kristaps Porzingis won't be healthy, and the team is expected to struggle regardless of Porzingis' health, the Knicks have once again gotten a Christmas Game. This season, they'll host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.
- Additionally, the Knicks will have a MLK Day game, as they'll take on the Thunder at Madison Square Garden.
- The Thunder surprised everyone by re-signing Paul George this summer. But they won't have much time to celebrate, as they'll immediately be put to the test on opening night when they take on the Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 16.
- For the second straight season, the Thunder will get to play on Christmas. And for the second straight season, they'll go up against the Rockets in a Western Conference showdown.
- The Magic's first game will be an all-Florida battle against the Heat on Wednesday, Oct. 17. This is the second straight season those two have faced off to start the season.
- The 76ers proved last season that they're going to be a problem for the league for many years to come. This season, they've been rewarded with a number of showcase games. The first, in fact, will be on opening night, Tuesday, Oct. 16 in Boston against the Celtics.
- Just a few days later, on Thursday, Oct. 18, the Sixers will be back in Philly for their home debut. And they'll welcome in a young Bulls team that made some interesting decisions in the summer.
- In a rematch of their opening night showdown, the Sixers will go on the road to play the Celtics on Christmas Day, in one of the holiday's premier games.
- Furthermore, the Sixers will be on national TV on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as well, when they host James Harden, Chris Paul and the Rockets.
- We won't have to wait long to see No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton on national TV. His Suns will take on Luka Doncic and the Mavericks on Wednesday, Oct. 17 on ESPN.
- What a way for the Trail Blazers to start out their season. On Thursday, Oct. 18, they'll host the Lakers in what will be LeBron James' first game with his new team.
- In a battle of two Northwest Division foes, the Trail Blazers will head to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz in this season's Christmas Day finale.
- The Kings will begin their season, and No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III will begin his career, on Wednesday, Oct. 17 with a home game against the Jazz and Bagley's former teammate, Grayson Allen.
- New Raptor Kawhi Leonard will make his return to San Antonio on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 according to Yahoo Sports' Sams Charania.
- Former Raptor and current Spur DeMar DeRozan will make his emotional return to Toronto on Feb. 22.
- The Spurs will play host to the Mavericks in what could be Dirk Nowitzki's final regular-season game.
- The NBA announced the Raptors will play twice on national TV the first week of the season. Toronto's home game on Friday, Oct. 19 will be shown on ESPN and, the next day, the Raptors' road game at Washington on Saturday, Oct. 20 will be on NBA TV. Story
- New Raptor Kawhi Leonard will make his return to San Antonio on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019.
- Former Raptor and current Spur DeMar DeRozan will make his emotional return to Toronto on Feb. 22.
- Utah will play host to the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Oct. 19 in a nationally-televised game on ESPN. Story
- The Jazz will play on Christmas Day, playing host to Portland on ESPN in the last of five games that day. Story
- Gordon Hayward will make his long awaited return to Utah on Friday, Nov. 9.
- In a sign that they've perhaps been left behind by other teams, the Wizards are not featured on opening night, Christmas or MLK Day. They will have an interesting national TV game during opening week though, as they face the new-look Raptors on Saturday, Oct. 20.
