Keep your friends close and your rivals closer. This twist on the old saying is appropriate throughout the NBA and especially on the first Prime Friday of next season.
New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (7 p.m. ET, Prime). There’s so much history here, and the present looks rich as well. Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (9:30 p.m. ET, Prime) in Austin. Texas is barely big enough for both of these divisional foes, linked by the I-10 highway and a heavy amount of respect and suspicion of one another.
As the 2026-27 season plows through the weeks and months ahead, there’s every reason to expect an entertaining series between these teams and the very real chance that a post-season meeting could result as well come next spring.
But that’s all down the road. When they tip off on First Friday, these four can deliver early messages and also position themselves favorably not only in their divisions but the conference standings as well.
🔥 BRUNSON vs. TATUM
🔥 KD vs. WEMBYPrime's opening-week Friday doubleheader is MUST-SEE! https://t.co/3aMP4hfYjY
— NBA (@NBA) August 11, 2026
Celtics-Knicks offers something old and new.
The old: Well, that would be their playoff history — a total of 16 series overall. Two years ago, in their most recent playoff engagement, the Knicks sent the then-defending champions Celtics home in six games. That was when Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles in the waning moments of a tremendous Game Four when he scored 42 points and engaged in a sensational scoring duel with Jalen Brunson.
That injury obviously was a momentum changer for the Celtics, who lost the series and also Tatum for much of last season. And that series and injury sent both teams in different directions. While the Knicks did lose to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals that year, it was the last time they dropped a playoff series.
As for Tatum, he now enters this season with a bit of incentive, not only to restore himself as an All-NBA talent, but to do so without Jaylen Brown, who’s now with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The new: There’s a twist to this rivalry, caused by the Knicks’ championship last summer and the subsequent realities of winning. In their effort to remain financially sustainable, the Knicks allowed big man Mitchell Robinson to sign as a free agent with … the Celtics, of all teams. Robinson will be missed in New York, not only because he’s among the league’s better rebounders and a decent defender, but he fills a major need in Boston and supplies depth at center.
It’ll be interesting to see Robinson battle against Karl-Anthony Towns in this game, and even more interesting, will Knicks coach Mike Brown instruct his players to intentionally foul Robinson and send him to the free throw line, as opposing coaches did many times before when Robinson was a Knick?
Speaking of big men, Rockets-Spurs offers a pair of young centers who don’t reflect each other’s styles yet manage to make an impact whenever they suit up.
Victor Wembanyama could make a serious bid for MVP if he takes another leap in his development. Coincidentally enough, he trained this summer with Hakeem Olajuwon, the legendary Rockets center. Wembanyama apparently went to Olajuwon to polish his inside game, and Wemby couldn’t have chosen a better instructor. Olajuwon’s footwork was impeccable during his career and helped his signature move — the Dream Shake. The two also had something else in common; Olajuwon was the NBA leader in blocked shots and Wemby led all players last season.
He’ll need his defensive instincts to keep Alperen Sengun in check. The shifty Rockets center has the type of tricky moves inside the paint that Wemby wants to emulate. Sengun had issues with Wemby and the Spurs last season, scoring more than 20 points only once in four games; the Spurs won three of those contests.
There’s of course Kevin Durant as well for the Rockets. Much like LeBron James, Durant keeps defying age; he’ll be 38 when this game tips. He nonetheless led the Rockets in scoring last season at 26 points. The last time Durant averaged less than that number in a single season was 2016-17, which was understandable; that was his first with Golden State and next to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. His average hasn’t dipped under 25 since his rookie season.
Durant will be charged with, once again, helping the young Rockets learn how to prosper and feel comfortable as a contender. Which means Houston looks to get improved results from Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr., among others.
It’s also about the Spurs’ young players and their quest for the next level, starting with the Rockets-Spurs game, which could drop hints of an upcoming breakout season from Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle and maybe even Carter Bryant.
As for the Rockets, they anxiously await the return of Fred VanVleet, who missed all of last season while recovering from injury, while hoping for improved leadership with the addition of Marcus Smart, who arrives from the Los Angeles Lakers. The ability of these two veteran guards to make the Rockets a smarter and less reckless team will heavily determine Houston’s chances of winning 50 games and finishing high in the West.
So these two games — Knicks-Celtics, Rockets-Spurs — are well worth ushering in the opening weekend of next season. If the signals emitting from those four teams heading into the season are indeed as positive as they seem, then this will be prime entertainment — not just on First Friday, but beyond.
***
Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
