How to watch NBA opening night: Lakers-Nuggets, Suns-Warriors, channel, odds, storylines
The NBA is back. The 2023-24 season tips off Tuesday night with two marquee matchups — first, the reigning champion Denver NuggetsLos Angeles Lakers and then the Golden State Warriors host the Phoenix Suns.
Here’s what you need to know.
How to watch NBA opening night
Both games will air on TNT. Lakers-Nuggets starts at 7:30 p.m. (ET) and Suns-Warriors is at 10 p.m. (ET).
2023-24 NBA schedule: Key games, national TV matchups
Why are these games for opening night?
Because the league wants to highlight the reigning NBA champions, and because LeBron James and Steph Curry are good for business. Sometimes you don’t have to overthink it. The league starts building its schedule by figuring out its opening week games and Christmas Day games first and it wants to have its highest-profile teams and stars involved.
The Lakers-Nuggets game is a real doozy. It has everything. The NBA is not just serving up its biggest star and its reigning champ on a platter but also giving viewers what might be the spiciest rivalry right now.
Denver coach Michael Malone threw barbs at the Lakers earlier this year and Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham fired back, and James has . This game was made for opening night and it has some real heat. Oh, not to mention, the league has to start selling Jokić more and this is a prime window to keep marketing him to the sports world.
Suns-Warriors puts Durant and Curry on opening night. Curry and the Warriors are good for TV ratings. Durant is a top star and this can help the league re-introduce the Suns as they hope to make a title run with their new starry roster with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal alongside Durant.
Not to mention the underlying history between the Warriors and Durant, who helped them win two titles a half-decade ago. — Mike Vorkunov, national NBA writer
Odds via BetMGM
What else to know
There are a few changes to NBA rules this season you might want to know about. Among the highlights are calling “flops” as fouls, awarding coaches a second challenge if their first is successful and instituting game and minutes minimums to qualify for major awards like MVP and All-NBA teams.
