Once again, the NBA has released a full schedule for all 30 teams, and we’re here to go over the big matchups. As teams book hotels and insert every itinerary into their smartphone calendars, a minimum of 1,230 regular-season (plus NBA Cup!) games are scheduled and ready to go. It’s always fun when the NBA schedule gets released and we start planning for the most important matchups.NBA Cup group play begins on Oct. 30. How aggressive will the Cup courts be this time? I’m excited to see! For now, there are three dozen games I’m most looking forward to, so take note! (Inevitably, I probably left a good matchup or two off this list. I promise I left it out because I hate your favorite team. Still, toss the games you’re most looking forward to watching in the comments.)(Editor’s note: All times Eastern; national TV info listed when applicable but subject to change.)Matchups with something to proveNBA Finals rematch: San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, noon, Christmas, ABC/ESPNWe saw genuine animosity build up during the Knicks’ NBA Finals win over the Spurs, and it was a real teaching moment for San Antonio’s young squad. It was also a great coronation for a Knicks team that had been knocking on the door for a couple years. Now, we get to watch them have another go-round at the same scene of New York’s 29-point, Game 4 comeback. The Knicks will want to show this is their league and the Spurs aren’t ready yet. San Antonio should want to disprove that.There’s also the sub-story of Victor Wembanyama becoming somewhat of a villain. In that historic Game 4 collapse, he had that viral moment of telling Mitchell Robinson he’s in the latter’s head before yielding the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history. Madison Square Garden will be all over Wemby, so he has to manage his emotions. This could bloom into a fun rivalry for the next couple of years, if the collective bargaining agreement even allows that anymore.New York celebrates the 2026 NBA champion New York KnicksWest finals rematch: San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m., Feb. 11, Prime VideoThe Thunder were supposed to have a stranglehold on the NBA after their 2025 championship, but the Spurs knocked them off the West’s perch the very next postseason. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t completely dominant. Chet Holmgren looked ill-equipped to share a court with Wembanyama. And the young Spurs took out the young Thunder in what could be a tremendous rivalry moving forward. Now, the Spurs return to OKC for the first time since Game 7 of the 2026 conference finals (the teams play in San Antonio on opening night). The Thunder will hopefully have a healthy Jalen Williams, but they’ll still be down several key role players.East finals rematch: New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers, 8 p.m., Nov. 7Once the Cavs folded in the fourth quarter of Game 1, the writing on the wall developed bigger, more elaborate font. New York owned the East, and Cleveland couldn’t do anything about it. Jalen Brunson wants to reiterate he’s this matchup’s best guard and leader, and Donovan Mitchell and James Harden should want to prove that wrong. The Cavs’ frontcourt should hope to prove it can hang with Karl-Anthony Towns and company. Cleveland isn’t really the challenger to the throne in the East, but this is legally a conference finals rematch. I want to see how Cleveland treats it.West showdown: Minnesota Timberwolves at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m., Oct. 31The elbow from Wemby. The trash talk from Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. The inspired play of Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox. There is so much talent in this matchup, and the Wolves will have LaMelo Ball to help alleviate defensive pressure from Edwards. These Wolves have a new look and may not have the frontcourt depth to handle Wemby. But they’re hoping the perimeter attack can solve most of the issues the Spurs’ defense presented.Rivalry renewed: Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets, 10:30 p.m., Dec. 28, NBCThe Wolves completely punked the Nuggets in the first round. McDaniels called out Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. The Nuggets did nothing about it, except show some faux fight in them when McDaniels scored at the end of a decided game. Beyond that? The Wolves continued owning the Nuggets since the latter’s 2023 title. Denver will want to change that narrative and exploit the Wolves’ lacking frontcourt depth. The teams will also play three days later in Minnesota.Let’s get physical: Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m., Nov. 24This first-round matchup was historic, with the Pistons coming back from the 3-1 deficit as they reenacted what happened between the Pistons and Magic back in 2003. Orlando ended up firing Jamahl Mosley from the sidelines and hopes Sean Sweeney can lead a charge atop the East. Although Detroit had a mediocre offseason after clinching the East’s No. 1 seed, we know this will be a physical defensive battle.Delayed rivalry renewal: New York Knicks at Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m., Nov. 13, Prime VideoThe Pacers kept the Knicks from making the NBA Finals back in 2025. Tyrese Haliburton talked trash, hit big shots and nearly led the Pacers to the championship. But his torn Achilles kept the Pacers from shocking the world. During his recovery, the Knicks have become the best team in basketball. Indiana will want to prove New York’s success was about the Pacers having a gap year, though the latter is hoping to rule the East again. This should have plenty of fun and fireworks.Familiar faces in new placesTribute Video: Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks, 9:30 p.m., Jan. 28, Prime VideoThis one has several components. First and foremost is Giannis’ return to Milwaukee. He spent the previous 13 years with the Bucks, making them champions and one of the decade’s more successful teams. Emotions will be high for Antetokounmpo that night, which I expect to include a pretty good welcome by Bucks fans. But there’s also the Bam Adebayo-Tyler Herro dynamic after what reportedly happened in Las Vegas this summer. Every time they match up, drama shouldn’t be far away.