2022-23 NBA Schedule Released: Key Dates Including Lakers-Warriors on Opening Day, Luka vs LeBron on Christmas, All-Star Weekend
NBA enthusiasts, it’s time to mark your calendars. The 2022–23 NBA schedule for the regular season was formally unveiled on Wednesday, signaling that the season’s start is quickly approaching.
The NBA has worked to lessen player wear and tear over the previous few seasons, and this season was no exception. This season, the league is going from 53 to 88 games without any travel between away games.
The NBA Finals from the previous season ended in June for the first time since 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic started, therefore free agency and the July moratorium period before players can officially start signing new contracts reverted to their customary July 1 beginning dates.
Key dates from the NBA schedule
Opening Day Fixtures
On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the Philadelphia 76ers will travel to take on their enduring nemesis, the reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, to kick off the 2022–23 NBA regular season. The Los Angeles Lakers will then travel up the Pacific coast to face the Golden State Warriors, the 2022 NBA champions, at Chase Center.
The 2022-23 NBA season tips off Oct. 18 on TNT! 📺@sixers vs. @celtics // 7:30pm ET@Lakers vs. @warriors // 10pm ET pic.twitter.com/idjzflzZnX
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 17, 2022
Election Day Fixtures
The NBA has announced that there will be no games on Election Day this season, which is set for Tuesday, November 8, 2022.
The NBA says it won't schedule any games on Election Day this year, in an effort to encourage fans, players, and officials to vote.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 17, 2022
Christmas Day Fixtures
There is no shortage of plotlines or A-list talent on this Christmas Day lineup. Following are the top teams playing on Christmas. LeBron vs Luka Doncic will surely be a matchup to look forward to.
2022 NBA Christmas Day schedule, per @ShamsCharania
– Bucks vs. Celtics
– Sixers vs. Knicks
– Suns vs. Nuggets
– Lakers vs. Mavs
– Grizzlies vs. WarriorsCan’t wait 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ZS33Y4RBVV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 14, 2022
- New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 12 p.m. ET
- Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 2:30 p.m. ET
- Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 5 p.m. ET
- Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET
- Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns, 10:30 p.m. ET
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Fixtures
The Charlotte Hornets and Boston Celtics matchup is the first game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The proceedings come to a close with a game between the Lakers and Rockets scheduled for Los Angeles.
TNT will present a doubleheader and NBA TV will also televise two games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 16. pic.twitter.com/Aegl1mrA7q
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 17, 2022
- Charlotte Hornets vs. Boston Celtics, 1 p.m. ET
- Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. Phoenix Suns, 6 p.m. ET
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets, 10:30 p.m. ET
Rivals Week Fixtures
New this year: "NBA Rivals Week"
11 rivalry games from Jan. 24-28:
– Celtics/Heat
– Clippers/Lakers
– Nets/76ers
– Grizzlies/Warriors
– Lonzo Ball/LaMelo Ball
– Suns/Mavericks
– Timberwolves/Grizzlies
– Raptors/Warriors
– Nikola Jokic/Joel Embiid
– Knicks/Nets
– Lakers/Celtics— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 17, 2022
- Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics — Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
- L.A. Lakers vs. L.A. Clippers — Jan. 24, 10 p.m. ET
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets — Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies — Jan. 25, 10 p.m. ET
- Charlotte Hornets vs. Chicago Bulls — Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks — Jan. 26, 10 p.m. ET
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Memphis Grizzlies — Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Golden State Warriors vs. Toronto Raptors — Jan. 27, 10 p.m. ET
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Denver Nuggets — Jan. 28, 3 p.m. ET
- Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks — Jan. 28, 5:30 p.m. ET
- Boston Celtics vs. L.A. Lakers — Jan. 28, 8:30 p.m. ET
NBA All-Star Weekend
From February 17 to 19, Salt Lake City will host the yearly NBA All-Star festivities. The All-Star Game itself will take place on Sunday, February 19, while popular contests like the 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest will take place on Saturday, February 17.
NBA Play-In Tournament
The 2023 NBA Playoffs are set to begin on April 15, 2023.
The Play-In Tournament will begin shortly before on April 11 and go through April 14.
Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals is scheduled to be played on June 1, 2023.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) August 17, 2022
The NBA voted to make the play-in tournament a regular part of the calendar during the summer, therefore it will be held for a third straight season. The decision to make the play-in permanent is hardly shocking given the level of interest it has created over the last two years.
ALSO READ: Spurs, Heat to play in Mexico City on Dec. 17
NBA Playoffs
The play-in tournament will end, and then the playoffs will begin. This year, the postseason will begin on April 15 and go through mid-June.
NBA Finals
The 2023 NBA Finals will begin on June 1st. It will be a best-of-seven series, as usual.
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