Timberwolves fans have a schedule built for a flagship season. Opening with a trip to Portland and a rematch with LeBron, Luka and Jokic sets a brutal early tone, while Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns chase Minnesota’s first Finals run. The league’s new broadcast era means 28 Wolves games on ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Amazon, with a Christmas Day showdown in Denver underscoring the national spotlight across the slate.

New ownership under Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez amplifies the upside, as the Wolves leverage elevated TV exposure to maximize fantasy value from Edwards, Towns and emerging pieces. The calendar also features late-night tips on NBC/Peacock in February and March, a robust In-Season Tournament schedule (Utah, Sacramento, Phoenix, OKC), and a dense stretch of marquee matchups that could swing DFS and season-long decisions.

Key early markers include Oct. 22 in Portland, Oct. 24 in Los Angeles against the Lakers, and Oct. 26 vs. Indiana; the narrative repeatedly circles back to high-profile rematches and cross-conference tests. With a frontcourt grinding schedule and an offense built around Edwards’ scoring, Minnesota’s path to fantasy relevance hinges on pace, usage and shot volume during these high-visibility weeks.

Denver’s 2025-26 schedule centers on a pivotal homecoming: Michael Porter Jr. returns to Ball Arena on Jan. 29 after a July trade that sent him to Brooklyn for Cam Johnson. That swap, plus a widening offseason roster shakeup, sharpened depth and raised the Nuggets’ ceiling for the championship window ahead. The slate also features a Christmas-night showdown with Minnesota, highlighted by Jokic against Edwards, and a road opener at Golden State before a home date with Phoenix.

Across the calendar, Denver faces two trips from Oklahoma City and two visits from Los Angeles teams, with LeBron, Doncic and Durant each scheduled to entertain Ball Arena twice. The Emirates NBA Cup adds group-play tests against Golden State and San Antonio, while a 16-back-to-back load keeps the team’s endurance in focus. The schedule promises spread-out stars, deeper rotations, and plus/minus opportunities for fantasy managers tracking Cam Johnson’s integration and Porter Jr.’s return rhythm.

Opening night kicks off with a bang as OKC defends its title against Houston, while LeBron and the Warriors collide in a marquee clash. Durant returns to face his old club from the visiting bench as Durant suits up for Houston, instantly turning a banner ceremony into a high-stakes barometer for both teams. The season’s early slate also features the era’s next wave: Flagg and Harper chase instant impact against Wembanyama, and the Pacers- Bucks tilt headlines Tyrese Haliburton’s health status and Myles Turner’s return vibe.

From Warriors-Rockets rematches with Durant in the fold to NBA Cup showdowns shaping February, the schedule pulses with crossgenerational intrigue. Christmas Knicks vs Cavaliers sets the tone for a likely East top-tier race, while February and March tease a算nimble slate of star matchups centered on Edwards, Embiid, Doncic, Irving, and more. Fantasy managers should earmark early-season velocity, injury rollouts, and top-6 fantasy tiebreakers as teams chase momentum and depth in a loaded 2025-26 campaign.

LAKERS OPEN 2025-26 with a frontcourt pivot and a defensive maestro, as Deandre Ayton slides into the starting 5 and Marcus Smart blends playmaking with lockdown perimeter work. Jaxson Hayes shifts into a complementary role to stabilize the interior, and the new mix is designed to tame rebounding gaps that haunted LA in the playoffs.

Their opening week features a marquee home clash with Stephen Curry and the Warriors to kick off the schedule, followed by a Northern California trip to face the Kings, then a nationally televised date against Minnesota on Prime Video. The Timberwolves’ postseason win over LA highlighted the need for improved interior defense and rebound control, both of which Ayton and Smart are expected to bolster right away.

Fantasy managers should note Ayton’s center deployment could lift rebounding numbers and provide steadier production in FG% and demand on the glass, while Smart’s two-way impact may boost defensive stats and rotate solid scoring around LA’s core. LeBron James remains the constant engine, but the supporting cast now has clearer pathways to reliable fantasy value in the opening stretch.

National exposure on the Timberwolves game adds another layer of late-week fantasy relevance, with Edwards’ ceiling as a budding star elevated by the surrounding talent. For LA, the schedule tests the rotation early, and the improved interior presence can create favorable mismatch scenarios for shooters and cutters across the lineup.