The San Antonio Spurs have been handed two of the most anticipated games on the 2026-27 NBA calendar right from the jump. According to the San Antonio Express-News, the Spurs will host the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20 to open their Western Conference title defence, part of a nationally televised NBC triple-header. Christmas Day brings another compelling rematch, with Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs travelling to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks, who defeated San Antonio in the NBA Finals last June.
Both matchups were confirmed Tuesday morning as part of the NBA’s staggered schedule rollout. The full 2026-27 schedule drops Thursday. The NBA Cup game slate is set for Wednesday.
Opening Night Rematch in San Antonio
The Spurs and Thunder met in a contested seven-game Western Conference Finals series last spring, with San Antonio prevailing to reach the NBA Finals. Pitting those two sides against each other on opening night gives the new season an immediate edge. October 20 delivers right away. The triple-header on NBC also features LeBron James making his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Knicks, and the Celtics taking on the Pistons in the first game of the night, per CBS Sports.
Christmas Day at the Garden
The Knicks-Spurs Christmas matchup tips off at 12 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden. CBS Sports ranked it the top game on a five-game Christmas slate, noting it doubles as a Finals rematch and a renewal of a growing rivalry. Wembanyama previously played on Christmas Day at MSG during the 2024 season, posting 42 points in a loss to New York — what CBS Sports described as the first of several high-profile meetings between the two clubs.
For San Antonio, it marks a third consecutive Christmas Day appearance. It is also the second time in three seasons they have played in New York on December 25.
Austin Stop Added Earlier Than Usual
Early. That’s the difference this year in Austin. The Express-News also reported that San Antonio’s second designated home game of the season will be played on October 23 at the Moody Center in Austin, against the Houston Rockets. The Spurs have hosted a regular-season contest in Austin for five straight seasons, but this will be the first time the trip has come before February.
The trio of announced games covers the Spurs’ early-season footprint across San Antonio, Austin, and New York, with the NBA Cup draw and the full schedule to follow later this week.
