2024-25 NBA schedule release: Knicks-Celtics on opening night, Lakers-Warriors highlight of Christmas slate

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The NBA officially unveiled the entire schedule for the 2024-25 regular season on Thursday. Only 80 of each team's 82 games were announced, as the last two games will be determined based on their performance in group play of the NBA Cup. But everything else is now set in stone, including the matchups for opening night, the slate of Christmas Day games, and key meetings between rivalries both old and new.

Opening night of the 2024-25 season will be on Oct. 22, with the regular season concluding on April 13. The NBA Cup group stage -- which was previously named the In-Season Tournament -- will start on Nov. 12 and will continue every Tuesday and Friday through Dec. 3. The semifinals and championship game for the NBA Cup will be on Dec. 14 and Dec. 17. All-Star Weekend is set for Feb. 14-16 in San Francisco, with the Play-In Tournament slated for April 15-18. The playoffs will begin on April 19.

Here's other notes on the NBA schedule release:

Klay Thompson will make his return to the Bay Area to play against the Golden State Warriors for the first time on Nov. 12 as part of the NBA Cup group play.The NBA Finals rematch between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks will take place on Jan. 25 at TD Garden.Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, will debut on Oct. 23 at home against the Brooklyn Nets.Paul George will return to play the Los Angeles Clippers for the first time since joining the 76ers on Nov. 6.The top two picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, Risacher and Alex Starr will face off for the first time on Oct. 28.For the first time in six years, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks will not play in a Christmas Day game.Opening nightNew York Knicks at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ETMinnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ETChristmas DaySan Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, 12 p.m. ETMinnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks, 2:30 p.m. ETPhiladelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, 5 p.m. ETLos Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 8 p.m. ETDenver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns, 10 p.m. ETMartin Luther King Jr. Day

Fourteen teams will compete on MLK Jr. Day on Jan. 20, with three of those matchups being nationally televised.

Dallas Mavericks at Charlotte Hornets, 12 p.m. ETMinnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies, 2:30 p.m. ETBoston Celtics at Golden State Warriors, 5 p.m. ETRivalry Week

For the third season, Rivalry Week will be returning to the NBA calendar. There will be 10 nationally televised games showcasing both classic and budding rivalries across the league between Jan. 21-Jan. 25.

Jan. 21: New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. ETJan. 21: Philadelphia 76ers at Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ETJan. 22: Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks, 7:30 p.m. ETJan. 22: Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m. ETJan. 23: Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks, 7:30 p.m. ETJan. 23: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ETJan. 24: New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ETJan. 25: Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves, 3 p.m. ETJan. 25: Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks, 5:30 p.m. ETJan. 25: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors, 8:30 p.m. ETKey datesSept. 24: Media day for Boston Celtics and Denver NuggetsSept. 25: First day of training camp for Boston Celtics and Denver NuggetsSept. 30: Media days for the remaining 28 teamsOct. 1: First day of training camp for remaining 28 teamsOct. 4 & 6: NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 (Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets)Oct. 6: NBA Canada Series (Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards)Oct. 12-13: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement WeekendOct. 18: Preseason concludesOct. 22: Opening night of the 2024-25 regular seasonNov. 2: NBA Mexico City Game (Miami Heat vs. Washington Wizards)Nov. 12: Emirates NBA Cup Group Stage beginsDec. 3: Emirates NBA Cup Group Stage concludesDec. 10-11: Emirates NBA Cup QuarterfinalsDec. 14: Emirates NBA Cup SemifinalsDec. 17: Emirates NBA Cup ChampionshipDec. 25: Christmas DayJan. 23 & 25: NBA Paris Games (San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers)Feb. 6: NBA Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET)Feb. 14-16: NBA All-Star Weekend in San FranciscoApril 13: NBA regular season endsApril 15-18: NBA Play-In TournamentApril 19: NBA Playoffs begin

2024-25 NBA schedule release: Knicks-Celtics on opening night, Lakers-Warriors highlight of Christmas slate

2024-25 NBA schedule release: Knicks-Celtics on opening night, Lakers-Warriors highlight of Christmas slate

2024-25 NBA schedule release: Knicks-Celtics on opening night, Lakers-Warriors highlight of Christmas slate

2024-25 NBA schedule release: Knicks-Celtics on opening night, Lakers-Warriors highlight of Christmas slate

2024-25 NBA schedule release: Knicks-Celtics on opening night, Lakers-Warriors highlight of Christmas slate