Opening night of the upcoming NBA season will feature the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder hosting Houston and a star-studded clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State, ESPN reported Friday.

The season will tip off on October 21 and the opening night games will be aired by NBC, marking the league's return to the broadcaster for the first time in 23 years.

The 2025-26 season is the first of an 11-year media rights deal for the NBA worth a reported $76 billion.

It includes a new partnership with Amazon, a return to NBC and a continuing partnership with ESPN and ABC, with ABC to carry a blockbuster Christmas day slate.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, who had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, are scheduled to play on Christmas against the New York Knicks a

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