Giannis Antetokounmpo will make his official debut with the Heat against the Timberwolves at 7:30 ET on ESPN, as the league gets started in earnest.
The NBA season opening week continues tonight with 11 games!
Giannis Antetokounmpo and LaMelo Ball will make their respective debuts as Heat host the Timberwolves (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), followed by a duel between superstars Stephen Curry and Luka Dončić, as the Warriors meet the Lakers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Follow along for updates throughout the night.
What we know about NBA opening week
- 11 games on the slate tonight.
- The Miami Heat host the Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), marking the official debut for two of the blockbuster moves of the offseason.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo and LaMelo Ball will make their respective debuts, as Anthony Edwards starts his 7th NBA season.
- Steph Curry and the Warriors open their 2026-27 campaign vs. Luka Dončić and the Lakers at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
6:40 p.m. ET / OCT. 21
The stars resume their orbits
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard are on the hardwood, ready to start a new season.
Giannis warms up ahead of his Miami debut 💪
The Heat open their season against the Wolves at home at 7:30pm/et on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/ppYYkoBMYq
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
Power level: LOADING… ⏳ pic.twitter.com/zcl9MWPckz
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) October 21, 2026
Kawhi is feelin' it in warmups 🎯
He'll make his @Raptors return TONIGHT in their season opener against the Bulls at 7:30pm/et on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/zh6L2un04F
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
6:30 p.m. ET / OCT. 21
A top-notch draft matchup
These two last met in the 2026 NBA Summer League, where Peterson (25 pts, 12 ast, 3 3PM, 2 stl) led the Jazz over Boozer (18 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast) and the Grizzlies 109-100.
What’s in store tonight?
A PAIR OF NBA ROOKIES ARE HERE 🔥
No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson and No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer make their NBA debuts TONIGHT!
🍿 Utah/Memphis
📺 8:00pm/et on NBA League Pass pic.twitter.com/4HyS0tEmzS— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
5:45 p.m. ET / OCT. 21
The guards are styling
Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young and Tyrese Haliburton are making their season debuts tonight.
Ant arrives for the @Timberwolves season opener 🔥@anthonyedwards opens Year 7 on the road against the Heat TONIGHT at 7:30pm/et on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/IHQuM8iGAT
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
LaMelo is in the building for his Wolves debut ‼️@MELOD1P and the @Timberwolves open their season in Miami against the Heat at 7:30pm/et on ESPN 🍿 pic.twitter.com/2C2NIgVSQY
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
Trae Young arrives for Washington's season opener 👏
The Wizards square off against the Bucks at 7:00pm/et on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/5BfZUyaTvz
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
Tyrese Haliburton arrives for his first game back in 486 days!
Indiana opens their 2026-27 NBA season against New Orleans at 8:00pm/et on NBA League Pass 🏀 pic.twitter.com/BMvWSzW0tt
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
4:23 PM / OCT. 21
1 storyline to follow for every team
With 22 teams in action tonight, NBA.com’s Shaun Powell writes that “every team has a reason to believe something special could be ahead.”
12:05 PM / OCT. 21
NBA games tonight
The second night of the regular season brings 11 matchups and plenty of storylines. The action starts at 7 p.m ET!
22 TEAMS OPEN THEIR SEASON TONIGHT!
🏀 New duos Ant & LaMelo and Giannis & Bam duel in Miami
🏀 Steph, GSW visit Luka, LAL
🏀 Kawhi returns to TOR, faces No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson, CHI
🏀 Hali, Kyrie and Dame return to regular-season action
🏀 Durant, HOU & Flagg, DAL meet in a… pic.twitter.com/SgXak5IEHa— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
