League Pass Watch Guide: 24 must-see games in 2024-25

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Playoff rematches, player return games and superstar matchups highlight 24 must-see games from the first half of the NBA season, available exclusively on NBA League Pass.
Just four days after the 2023-24 season ended, the Thunder and Bulls executed a trade, bringing one of the best on-ball defenders in Alex Caruso to OKC and a young playmaking guard in Josh Giddey to Chicago. And just four days into the 2024-25 season, they’ll meet for the first time.
For the first time in NBA history, French-born players were selected with the first two picks in the NBA Draft – No. 1 Zaccharie Risacher of Atlanta and No. 2 Alex Sarr of Washington. They will meet for the first time in just the second week of the 2024-25 NBA season.
The fifth game of LeBron James’ record-tying 22nd NBA season will be back where he spent half of his career – 2003-10 & 2014-18 – as the Lakers visit Cleveland. Last year, the Cavs won their first playoff series without LeBron since 1993 and will look to improve on that finish in 2025.
A rematch of last spring’s thrilling East Semis won by the Pacers in seven games, adding another chapter to this classic rivalry. Two teams led by 2023-24 All-NBA guards –Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton – the Knicks and Pacers meet for the second of three games this season.
This Battle of the Boroughs represents the first time that Mikal Bridges will face the Nets after being traded to the Knicks this summer to join his former Villanova teammates. And to add another layer to the matchup, this is also an NBA Emirates Cup to add Group Play game
The first meeting between these teams since Dallas ousted OKC from the 2024 Playoffs in the West Semis in six games. It is also a clash of the two guards on the 2024 All-NBA First Team – Dallas’ Luka Doncic and OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – who also finished 1st and 3rd in scoring.
Before becoming Olympic teammates with his favorite player of all time, Anthony Edwards led the Wolves to a First-Round sweep of Kevin Durant and the Suns in the 2024 Playoffs. Now they meet for the first time this season on teams with championship aspirations.
The final matchup of the season between teams with multiple connections – Paul George, Eric Gordon and Reggie Jackson in Philly each having spent four-plus seasons in LA, while LA’s James Harden, PJ Tucker, Nic Batum and Mo Bamba previously played in Philly.
December opens with two California return games, beginning with Harrison Barnes back in Sacramento, where he spent the past 5.5 seasons and helped end the Kings’ record-long playoff drought. That’s followed by Russell Westbrook back in LA, where he spent the past 1.5 seasons with the Clippers.
It’s a two-screen affair as Dejounte Murray makes his return to Atlanta after being traded to the Pelicans this offseason after two seasons in the ATL. Plus, a First Round rematch between Miami and Boston – two teams with a rich Playoff history – where the Celtics took their first step toward banner No. 18.
A rematch of the 2024 First Round matchup with the top-seeded Thunder swept the eighth-seeded Pelicans. Both teams made offseason additions with the Pelicans adding Dejounte Murray and the Thunder adding Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Another 2024 Western Conference First Round rematch as the Mavs made their first step toward the NBA Finals by ousting the Clippers in six games. This comes after LA eliminated Dallas in the same round in both 2020 and 2021 in Luka Doncic’s first two playoff series.
Indiana’s surprising run in the 2024 Playoffs came to a sudden halt in the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Pacers were swept by the eventual champion Celtics. This is the third and final meeting of the regular season between the East rivals.
Close out 2024 with a double rematch between Indy and Milwaukee. The Pacers knocked off the Bucks in the single-elimination semifinals of the inaugural NBA Cup, then eliminated them from the 2024 Playoffs with a First Round win in six games. Can Indy continue to find this success against Milwaukee or will the Bucks have the answer this season?
The only two players to win Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year square off in San Francisco as the first-ever winner De’Aaron Fox leads the Kings against the reigning winner Stephen Curry of the Warriors in a battle of NorCal squads.
After being an important piece of New York’s run to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Isaiah Hartenstein returns to Madison Square Garden for the first time since signing with the Thunder during the offseason.
Buckle up for some highlights as two of the NBA’s most electrifying players – Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards and Memphis’ Ja Morant – meet for the first time this season. Which one will deliver the most viral moment of the night?
After spending the past three seasons in Chicago – and dishing out the assist of the year – DeMar DeRozan was traded to Sacramento this offseason. This will be DeRozan’s first time back in Chicago, where Sam Smith called him “one of the most underrated Bulls of all time.”
After spending the past quarter century as roommates at the Staples Center/Crypto.com Arena, the Clippers will host the Lakers in their brand-new arena – the Intuit Dome – for the first time this season. Will “The Wall” bring the Clippers a home-court advantage against their L.A. rivals?
Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard (five games, third all-time behind Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant) and LA’s James Harden (four games, tied for fourth all-time with Michael Jordan) have a combined nine 60+ point games between them. They are the only active players with three or more such career games. Who will finish with more points on this night?
Cleveland’s deepest Playoff run without LeBron James since 1993 was ended by the eventual champion Celtics, who defeated the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in five games. Both teams signed key players to extensions in the offseason – Jayson Tatum and Derrick White in Boston; Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in Cleveland.
After a two-season run in Denver that included the 2023 NBA title, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed with Orlando in the offseason, bringing shooting, defense and championship pedigree to an up-and-coming Magic squad. This will mark KCP’s first return to the Mile High City since making the move to Florida.