LeBron James and the Lakers face Kevin Durant and the Suns on Monday night.
Basketball is in full swing and the second week of the 2024-25 regular season boasts a handful of marquee matchups on NBA League Pass, from a showdown between two Eastern Conference heavyweights to LeBron James’ return to Cleveland.
1. Bucks at Celtics: Monday, Oct. 28 (7:30 ET)
No team in NBA history has made more 3-pointers in its first three games than this year’s Celtics, as the defending champs have sunk 68 triples — 12 more than the previous record held by the 2021 Knicks (54). Now looking to improve to 4-0, Boston will square up with another Eastern Conference contender on Monday, as they host Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and the Bucks.
2. Lakers at Suns: Monday, Oct. 28 (10 ET)
In their second meeting in four days, LeBron James and the Lakers will face Kevin Durant and the Suns with Los Angeles (3-0) looking to remain unbeaten. On Friday, the Lakers reeled off a 22-point comeback behind Anthony Davis’ 35 points to stun Phoenix at Crypto.com Arena. What will Monday’s rematch in the Valley have in store?
3. Cavaliers at Knicks: Monday, Oct. 28 (7:30 ET)
In an Eastern Conference clash between two 2024 Playoff teams, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks will host Donovan Mitchell and the undefeated Cavs (3-0) at Madison Square Garden. Through two games for New York (1-1), Brunson (24.0 ppg) and Towns (16.5) are combining for 40.5 points per game, while Michell leads Cleveland with 23.3 ppg and three 3s a game (37.5 3P%).
4. Nuggets at Nets: Tuesday, Oct. 29 (7:30 ET)
After dropping 32 points in a 115-102 win over the Bucks on Sunday, Cam Thomas — one of John Schuhmann’s top-five candidates to win this season’s scoring title — will lead the Nets against last year’s Kia NBA MVP Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets. Through three games this season, Thomas is averaging 30.7 ppg (the sixth-highest mark in the NBA), while Jokić is posting 28.5 ppg and 8.5 apg.
5. Lakers at Cavaliers: Wednesday, Oct. 30 (7 ET)
In a matchup between two teams entering the second week of the season at 3-0, the Lakers will visit Cleveland, where LeBron James spent half of his record-tying 22 NBA seasons (2003-10 & 2014-18). The outing also features the Week 1 scoring leader in Anthony Davis, who dropped 36, 35 and 31 points in Los Angeles’ opening three wins.
6. Pelicans at Warriors: Wednesday, Oct. 30 (10:30 ET)
This is the second half of a two-game back-to-back set between the Pelicans and Warriors in San Francisco this week. It also serves as a preview of an Emirates NBA Cup Group Play matchup as both teams are in West Group C. Steph Curry’s status will be key to watch after he suffered an ankle sprain on Sunday; Curry averaged 30 points with 5.7 3-pointers per game in three matchups with NOLA last season.
7. Rockets at Mavericks: Thursday, Oct. 31 (8:30 ET)
The first of four games between these Texas rivals goes down on Halloween. This matchup was a treat for Luka Dončić last season as he averaged 41.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.3 assists in three games – all wins for the Mavericks. Will Houston’s Jalen Green (26.3 ppg this season) and company have an answer for Dallas this season?
8. Celtics at Hornets: Friday, Nov. 1 (7 ET)
The Celtics (22.7) and Hornets (16.3) enter this week ranked first and fourth, respectively, in 3-pointers made per game. Jayson Tatum (17) leads all players in 3-pointers made, while LaMelo Ball (15) is tied for second. In their only head-to-head matchup last season, Tatum dropped 45 points with seven 3s while Ball scored 36 points with five 3s, but it was Ball and the Hornets that got the win in OT.
9. Timberwolves at Spurs: Saturday, Nov. 2 (8 ET)
This matchup features two players ready to provide a viral moment every time they step on the court. Anthony Edwards had three of the top four dunks in last season’s top 100 countdown, while Wemby’s top 10 list from his rookie season was filled with “He just did what?!” moments.
10. Heat at Wizards: Saturday, Nov. 2 (9:30 ET)
In the NBA Mexico City Game 2024, Jimmy Butler and the Heat will take on Jordan Poole and the Wizards at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The matchup will mark the league’s 33rd game in Mexico since 1992 – more than any country outside of the U.S. and Canada – and coincides with traditional “Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) celebrations locally. Which team will stamp the special occasion with a win?
