Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder will take on Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets on NBC to tip off the NBA season on Oct. 21, NBC Sports and the NBA announced Tuesday.
The matchup between the Thunder and Rockets will be followed up by the latest chapter in the rivalry between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, as the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors also face off on opening night.
The two games will not only mark the beginning of a new season, they will also be the first NBA games to air on NBC since the 2002 finals.
Mike Tirico, Reggie Miller, Jamal Crawford and Zora Stephenson will call the game between Oklahoma City and Houston, which tips off at 7: 30 p.m. ET.
Noah Eagle, Grant Hill and Ashley ShahAhmadi will call the second game from Los Angeles, which, in addition to James and Curry, will feature Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler.
The season will begin with a matchup of teams expected to be two of the best in the West