After a few relatively quiet weeks of rumors surrounding jersey releases and who the Knicks would sign to fill their last roster spot, we finally received the release of the 2025-26 regular season schedule yesterday. With 80 of the 82 games now revealed (the last two will be revealed after the NBA Cup group play), we take a look at the most intriguing games and which games you should have circled.
October 22nd vs. Cavaliers
The first game of the season, almost regardless of the matchup, is a must-watch for any fan of any team. It signifies hope and a new season, often filled with changes. For the Knicks, though, it signifies both of those things, and more. Not only are the Knicks coming into the season with both internal and external expectations after a season filled with changes, but they are playing the Cavaliers, who figure to be their biggest challenge in their quest to make it back to the finals for the first time in over two decades. It will be a fun challenge for two teams who have some recent playoff history and will want to throw the first punch in what should be a season-long battle for supremacy in the conference.
November 5th vs. Timberwolves
Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo already made their returns to Madison Square Garden last year. But we’ve yet to see both of them playing on the same night in The Garden. Randle was out in the Timberwolves’ preseason game in New York and made his return in their January 17th regular season game, and while DiVincenzo did appear in the aforementioned preseason contest, he was out for the regular season game on the 17th. If both are healthy and good to go, this game will be not only DiVincenzo’s first regular-season game back in New York, but it will be the first time both of them will be available at Madison Square Garden as visitors. And yes, it’s been nearly a year since the two were traded to Minnesota. But Randle, despite being a polarizing figure, was an incredibly pivotal part of the Knicks, and DiVincenzo was among the most beloved Knicks ever. Seeing them potentially share the floor against the Knicks, in what’ll be New York’s first game against a Western Conference opponent, should be a fun one.
November 12th vs. Magic
While pretty much every NBA analyst, reporter, and fan agrees that the Eastern Conference will be led by the Cavaliers and Knicks, the overwhelming consensus is that the Magic will be third. The Celtics are obviously in a gap year due to Jayson Tatum’s injury, the 76ers still rely too much on injured stars, and the Bucks, despite having one of the best players in the world, have still failed to put a competent team around him. That leaves the Magic, who have not only been an annoying team to play the last couple of years, but have significantly upgraded their starting lineup by going out and acquiring shooting guard Desmond Bane. He gives them the kind of shooting and ball handling they have so badly needed, and this will be the Knicks’ first look at the newest iteration of the Magic.
November 30th vs. Raptors
Much like Randle and DiVincenzo, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are two players who were pivotal to the Knicks’ identity before they were traded for OG Anunoby. It should be a relatively easy win for the Knicks, but I won’t pass up an opportunity to watch the two former Knicks draftees come back to the arena they once called home.
December 19th vs. 76ers
I did just point out that the 76ers are not the conference favorites they once were. But a lot of that is because of injuries. When healthy, which isn’t often, this team still has the top-end talent to compete with and beat anyone. It’s hard to say what their starting roster will look like four months from now since Joel Embiid is reportedly still dealing with some knee issues and is already reportedly set to miss parts of training camp, and maybe even the preseason. But if Embiid and Paul George, who has had injury problems of his own, are healthy, this could be a tough matchup that could provide the Knicks with a watch-worthy challenge. And if Philadelphia turns out to be far from healthy, then, well, New York fans get to watch their team beat up on a team they clearly do not like.
December 25th vs. Cavaliers
Much like opening night, Christmas Day games are must-watch television for basketball fans. But this year, the implications are more than just a regular-season game during the holidays for the Knicks and their fans. New York will once again open up the festive day with a noon game at home, and do so against the aforementioned Cavaliers in what will be a tough test against a Cleveland team that will surely want to prove a point on the road on national television. I hate to overreact, but given the holiday, the opponent, and the potential implications, it could end up being the most important and watched games of the season.
January 2nd vs. Hawks
The “Trae Young owns the Knicks” narrative is among the most tired, not to mention inaccurate, ones in sports. Outside of his one playoff series against New York, Young has historically struggled to win against the Knicks, going just 7-17 against them in his career, and 4-7 at Madison Square Garden in the regular season. This will be another opportunity for the Knicks to not only beat Young once again, but it will also be a chance to look at the new look Hawks that acquired Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and another infamous character in Knicks lore, Kristaps Porzingis. The Hawks have finally built a synergistic roster around Young, and this should be a fun battle between two good Eastern Conference teams featuring two of the more hated opponents returning to The Garden.
January 5th at Pistons
While Detroit hasn’t had the flashy offseasons that the Magic or Hawks have had, they remain a solid team. With how heated the playoff series against the Pistons got both on the court and on social media, this should be a fun rematch in what is sure to be a hostile environment.
February 1st vs Lakers
Even when the Knicks were bad, the Lakers coming into town felt like a special occasion. Now, with both teams hunting a championship and constructing rosters that are filled with stars and recognizable names, this nationally televised game should be circled. Luka Doncic, who has had some unbelievable performances against the Knicks, returns to The Garden to face off against former teammate Jalen Brunson, and LeBron James could be playing in his last game ever in New York. If this doesn’t scream must-watch, I don’t know what will.
February 4th vs Nuggets
After going 1-13 against the Nuggets between 2019 and 2022, the Knicks have completely turned the script, going 5-1 against them with two of those victories coming by 38 points and 27 points. But every chance you get to watch the Nuggets play is a chance to play Nikola Jokic. And that’s a treat if you’re a basketball fan. Plus, with Michael Porter Jr. now across the river in Brooklyn, the reloaded Nuggets, who acquired Cam Johnson, should once again be among the favorites in the league. It will be another tough, but valuable test against a West Coast opponent.
February 21st vs. Rockets
Kevin Durant likely has a few more years left, but he likely only has a few games left in The Garden. Love him or hate him (I know most of this fanbase hates him), you will regret it if you miss one of his last games playing in New York. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that Houston comes into the season with a lot of expectations, too.
February 24th at Cavaliers
The Knicks’ first two matchups against the Cavaliers will come at home. And regardless of how those two games go, this will be a good opportunity for the Knicks to showcase what they can do against them on the road. And if it wasn’t clear, the NBA wants this to be a marquee matchup this year, as it will be the third nationally televised game between these two teams in as many games.
March 1st vs. Spurs
The Spurs may still be a couple years away from being true contenders, but with Victor Wembanyama coming into his third season, De’Aaron Fox playing in his first full season as a Spur, and rookie Dylan Harper set to take the stage, the Spurs should be a fun team to watch this season, and should be among the top of the League Pass teams. New York should be heavily favored in this game, but Wembanyama remains must-watch TV, and his return to The Garden, where he last scored 42 points on Christmas Day last year, is no different.
March 15 vs. Warriors
Okay, this will be my last “this could be one of the last times” rant. I swear. But the number of times Steph Curry will visit MSG after this season could be numbered- it can likely be counted on one hand. We Knicks fans, unfortunately, know what Curry is capable of in The Garden, but the sentimental side of me, and the basketball fan in me, couldn’t keep this one off the list.
March 29th at Thunder
Last season, we saw the Knicks not only compete with the Thunder but also look like the superior team for three quarters. And then the Thunder turned on the switch, while the Knicks simultaneously collapsed under pressure. If the Knicks truly have championship aspirations, which they 100% should, there’s a very good chance that the road goes through Oklahoma City. And if that is the case, they will need to be able to beat the Thunder, and do so in what’s often considered one of the most raucous crowds in the whole league. There’ll be about two weeks left in the regular season at this point, making this a very, very good indicator of how good these teams are, and in what kind of condition they’ll be in heading into the postseason. This nationally televised game could potentially be a Finals preview and may, in tandem with the Christmas Day game against the Cavaliers and the Lakers game in February, be one of the most highly anticipated games of the season.
