Celtics-Knicks, Lakers-Timberwolves Will Kick Off 2024-25 NBA Season, per Report

Boston will have its ring night against New York, while Anthony Edwards takes on a pair of Team USA teammates.
Feb 24, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024-25 NBA schedule will drop sometime in the next few weeks. Shams Charania of The Athletic already reported the Christmas Day schedule for next season. Now he's back with opening night info.

Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, Charania revealed the national TV broadcast for the first night of the 2024-25 NBA regular season on October 22— the defending champion Boston Celtics will host the New York Knicks, while the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The previous season's champ always plays on opening night and receives their rings. The Celtics will get to do so in front of the Knicks, who loaded up this offseason in an attempt to dethrone Boston. Kristaps Porzingis is unlikely to play as he recovers from surgery but otherwise both rosters should be locked and loaded for what should be a great matchup.

On the other coast, the NBA clearly wants to showcase Anthony Edwards. Edwards was on the fast track to superstardom even before he went to Paris as part of Team USA this summer, and now he seems fated to become the next big basketball personality and potential face of the league. The schedule now features him taking on two of his Olympics teammates, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as the Timberwolves attempt to return to the postseason following their best playoff run in decades.


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Liam McKeone

LIAM MCKEONE

Liam McKeone is a senior writer for the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He has been in the industry as a content creator since 2017, and prior to joining SI in May 2024, McKeone worked for NBC Sports Boston and The Big Lead. In addition to his work as a writer, he has hosted the Press Pass Podcast covering sports media and The Big Stream covering pop culture. A graduate of Fordham University, he is always up for a good debate and enjoys loudly arguing about sports, rap music, books and video games. McKeone has been a member of the National Sports Media Association since 2020.