Thunder to face Cavaliers on MLK Day in 2025-26 regular season

Even though August is usually a desert of NBA content, the middle of the month provides an oasis. The league is set to release its 2025-26 regular season schedule on Thursday, Aug. 14. A couple of days before, a few key matchups have already been revealed.

The NBA revealed its Opening Week and Christmas 2025 schedule. It shouldn't be surprising to see the Oklahoma City Thunder heavily featured in both. The NBA champion will be involved in two of the biggest days of the regular season.

The Thunder will host the Houston Rockets for the 2025-26 Opening Night on Tuesday, Oct. 21. As tradition, they will celebrate their NBA championship with a pregame banner drop and ring ceremony. Kevin Durant's attendance across the court gives this matchup some extra juice as it will start the NBC era.

The Thunder will then host the San Antonio Spurs for their Christmas contest. The NBA has leaned on the Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama rivalry. That'll be highlighted once again with a 1:30 p.m. CT tipoff on ABC and ESPN.

That's not the only holiday the Thunder will play on, though. The NBA announced on Tuesday that they will be part of a four-game slate on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It'll be a marquee matchup too as a possible 2026 NBA Finals preview.

The Thunder will travel on the road to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Jan. 19. The 1:30 p.m. CT tipoff will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

Both had the NBA's best records last season as the sole 60-plus win teams. With the rosters mostly the same, they'll be in the title conversations again. The Thunder enter the 2025-26 season as a popular pick to repeat as NBA champions.

NBC Sports will present four games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 19). pic.twitter.com/MXmoguIkId

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 12, 2025

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Thunder to face Cavaliers on MLK Day in 2025-26 regular season