We’re almost a full month through the NBA season. Some developments make sense — the Oklahoma City Thunder are thoroughly dominant in their title defense, while slimmed-down Luka Dončić is the league’s leading scorer. Others are harder to parse — the Detroit Pistons sit atop the East, Lauri Markkanen is averaging more than 30 points per game and second-round rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner is dominating the paint. It’s early enough to max out imagination, but there’s enough of a sample size for clear analysis.
This week’s schedule is once again built around network doubleheaders and in-season tournament games. Here’s a reason to watch each listing … yes, even the ones with Victor Wembanyama on ice.
NBA national TV guide
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| Game | Time (ET) | TV | Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Grizzlies at Spurs |
8 p.m., Tue. |
NBC, Peacock* |
|
|
Jazz at Lakers |
10:30 p.m., Tue. |
NBA League Pass |
|
|
Suns at Blazers |
11 p.m., Tue. |
NBC, Peacock* |
|
|
Rockets at Cavs |
7 p.m., Wed. |
ESPN |
|
|
Knicks at Mavs |
9:30 p.m., Wed. |
ESPN |
|
|
Hawks at Spurs |
8 p.m., Thu. |
NBA TV |
|
|
Pacers at Cavs |
7 p.m., Fri. |
Prime |
Prime Exclusive |
|
Nuggets at Rockets |
9:30 p.m., Fri. |
Prime |
Prime Exclusive |
*Depending on local market
NBC is free over the air, and it also streams on Peacock. All ESPN broadcasts stream on ESPN Unlimited. NBA TV and out-of-market games are available on NBA League Pass.
Tuesday, NBC/Peacock
Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs: “Jump in the Line“
No Ja Morant, that’s a bummer. And no Victor Wembanyama, mega-double-bummer. Tuesday’s game still deserves a glance to see who steps up in their absences. “Next man up,” indeed.
Morant’s calf injury opens up room for Memphis rookie Cedric Coward, who begins this week at 14 points per game (ppg) on impressive 47.8/37.1/90 splits. The No. 11 pick is drilling his catch-and-shoot 3s and racking up rebounds from the wing. He became the first player in NBA history to average at least 15 points while shooting 50/40/90 through his first 10 outings. He’s 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan. That rocks. Time to see what Coward can do in the starting lineup.
San Antonio has opened to a 9-4 start, and it has the talent to compete in the West. This is a valuable stretch for Mitch Johnson to see what he’s working with beyond the astral greatness of Wemby. The Spurs are also without Stephon Castle (hip) and Dylan Harper (calf), so De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell get the green light. Wembanyama’s backup, 7-foot-1 center Luke Kornet, had a double-double with three blocks in Sunday’s win versus the Sacramento Kings.
Phoenix Suns at Portland Trail Blazers: The Paul Rudd meme
“Hey, look at us!“ Who would’ve thought? Last season’s Suns went 36-46 (.439) with Kevin Durant; this current iteration hits Tuesday at 8-6 (.571) despite tearing down that failed superteam. The Suns start the week at No. 11 in net rating and No. 9 in effective field goal percentage. There’s no surprise in Devin Booker’s high-volume heater. Everything else is gravy … habanero desert gravy. Grayson Allen is at 18.5 ppg (his previous high was 13.5 in 2023-24). Royce O’Neale is averaging double-figure scoring for the first time in his nine pro campaigns. And Dillon Brooks is coming off consecutive, efficient 30+ point runs.
The Blazers come home Tuesday at 6-7, a record sanded down by five straight road tests. They haven’t played in Portland since Nov. 5, when they handed the Thunder their sole loss of the season. And as of Monday, they play with the league’s second-fastest pace. Deni Avdija looks like a top-shelf bucket-getter. Jrue Holiday, who has been a starting guard since 2009, has a career-best 8.3 assists per game at the age of 35. If Holiday (calf) can’t go Tuesday, Shaedon Sharpe gets more on-ball opportunities. Portland already has home Ws against the defending champs, the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors. All that despite its head coach’s federal arrest. For real, who would’ve thought?
Tuesday’s League Pass watch: Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers
It’s worth a watch if LeBron James (sciatica) debuts for his record-setting 23rd NBA season. It’s also worth a watch if he doesn’t, because Dončić is doing stuff like this:
LUKA. DONCIC. UNREAL pic.twitter.com/lE9mn3gFNL
— Lakers Empire (@LakersEmpire) November 16, 2025
If James doesn’t play Tuesday, the Lakers’ next game will come Sunday against the Jazz in Utah. That game will also be available with League Pass.
Wednesday, ESPN
Houston Rockets at Cleveland Cavaliers: Buckets in abundance
Cleveland led the league in offensive rating last season. Houston leads this season through its first dozen games. Both groups are building toward big playoff runs, but they also have the shooters to elevate the intensity on any given night. With his new team, Durant is methodically hooping as he always does, a few foul shots short of a 50/40/90 line. Alperen Şengün is an inside-out landslide, and Reed Sheppard has been scintillating off the bench. The Rockets are shooting 42.6 behind the arc as a team. Yes, of course that is the best mark in the NBA right now.
Cleveland counters with Donovan Mitchell, who’s at 30.9 ppg through his first 13 contests. Three different players are averaging more than two offensive rebounds per game — Cavs staples Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, plus undrafted prospect Nae’Qwan Tomlin. Kenny Atkinson’s crew lets it fly, then cleans up whatever rims out. Wednesday’s headliner should have scoring galore. Fans of all persuasions can dig it.
New York Knicks at Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg orders boneless wings
Are the Mavs good? Nope. Are they heathy? A second nope. Dallas is dismal, no way around that, but at least the most unpopular person in the city has been banished.
It’s the Cooper Flagg show now. He logged 48 minutes on Friday, then another 37 on Sunday, then 27 on Monday, and he sunk more than half of his shots in all three games. The noise around his team is some kind of cacophony, but the shine around his generational promise remains vibrant. Flagg gets an intriguing test Wednesday, as New York’s “Wingstop” will send different looks his way. Mikal Bridges is elastic; the relentless Josh Hart manipulates taller players without breaking a sweat. Even with OG Anunoby (hamstring) unavailable, the Knicks have a defensive rotation that should push Flagg. Let’s see the response.
Thursday, NBA TV/League Pass
Atlanta Hawks at San Antonio Spurs: In defense of defense
To the older relative in our lives who won’t stop complaining about defensive energy … please, just check out Hawks-Spurs and enjoy something for once. Thursday’s only game for the national audience pairs two top-10 defenses by overall rating and fast-break scoring. San Antonio’s defense takes a hit without Wemby, and his presence influences every speck of hardwood. But the Spurs still have stoppers. As of Monday, Fox is holding opposing shooters to just 35.3 percent from the floor. Kornet’s mark is 35.6 percent, even more impressive considering the layups he’s contesting at the rim. The Hawks are No. 6 in opposing 3-point percentage and tied for No. 2 in steals entering the week, with five consecutive wins. That’s in large part thanks to Dyson Daniels’ 2.3 swipes per game and Jalen Johnson’s two-way brilliance.
Friday, Amazon Prime (NBA Cup)
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers: A wine-colored court
Indy has completely bottomed out without Tyrese Haliburton. The hosts will be sizable favorites against the depleted Eastern Conference defending champs. No matter the outcome, the game will be aesthetically solid. Cleveland’s in-season tournament floor is sleek and royal:
DPOY HAS GOT HANDLES.@evanmobley | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/CznrAPiTSb
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 1, 2025
Merlot is optional for this Friday night affair.
Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets: A bright red court, but who cares, it’s Jokić vs. Durant!
Unlike Cleveland, Houston fashioned an NBA Cup court that’s far too red. Like, cornea-searing red. Oh well. The matchup itself rules. The Rockets and Nuggets come into the week at No. 1 and 2 in offensive rating, respectively. Denver also has the best shooting percentage and the third-best defensive rating. It’s November, so we can’t call this an NBA Finals preview without a bunch of qualifiers. But both sides are well-rounded, battle-tested and full of showmen. Two former MVPs are at the core of it. Durant might be the original “unicorn,” but Nikola Jokić is the gravity-inverting apotheosis. KD, insistently nonchalant, is (sic) “at the crib dog.” Joker, taking aloof genius to new levels, would rather be at the Serbian horse stable.
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