The middle of January in the NBA is usually when things start getting weird. The initial "new season" smell has long since faded, and the All-Star break is just far enough away to feel like a mirage. Honestly, this is where the grind really begins. But looking at the NBA schedule next week, specifically the stretch from January 19 to January 25, we aren't just getting "mid-season filler." We are getting a massive slate of games that could fundamentally shift the playoff seeding in both conferences.
Next week is basically a gauntlet.
It kicks off with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is traditionally one of the biggest days on the basketball calendar. Then we slide right into the NBA’s "Rivalry Week" initiatives. If you've been casually checking scores on your phone, now is the time to actually sit down and watch. The matchups are absurdly good.
The MLK Day Marathon (Monday, January 19)
Monday is a marathon. Nine games. It starts early and ends late, exactly how a holiday slate should. The league has leaned into some really interesting regional matchups and high-stakes games for this specific day.
One game that stands out is the Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks. It’s an early tip-off at 1:00 PM ET, airing exclusively on Peacock. Now, look, the Bucks have had a bit of an up-and-down season—they’re currently sitting at 17-22 and 11th in the East. They need wins. Desperately. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still doing Giannis things, but the supporting cast around him has been... let’s call it "inconsistent." On the other side, the Hawks are hovering around .500 (20-21). It’s a battle of two teams trying to prove they aren't just play-in tournament fodder.
If you aren't around for the afternoon games, the nightcap is where the heavy hitters come out. The Boston Celtics visit the Detroit Pistons at 8:00 PM ET. Yes, you read that correctly: the Pistons are a heavy hitter. Currently sitting at 28-10 and holding the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, Detroit has been the surprise of the 2025-26 season. Seeing the reigning-champ-tier Celtics try to humble a young, surging Detroit team is the exact kind of drama we need.
Other key games for Monday:
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers (2:30 PM ET): The Thunder are currently the best team in the West (33-7). This is a measuring stick game for Cleveland.
- Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks (5:00 PM ET): Luka Dončić in Madison Square Garden. Enough said.
- Miami Heat at Golden State Warriors (10:00 PM ET): A late-night battle between Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry. It’s always physical, and it’s always close.
Rivalries and Prime Time Matchups
Once we get past Monday, the NBA schedule next week doesn't slow down. Tuesday, January 20, features a massive doubleheader on NBC and Peacock.
The San Antonio Spurs head to Houston to face the Rockets at 7:00 PM ET. This is a defensive purist’s dream. These are two of the best defensive teams in the league right now. Watching Victor Wembanyama patrol the paint against Alperen Sengun is basically high-level chess with 7-footers.
Immediately following that, we get Denver at the Lakers. The rivalry between Nikola Jokić and the Lakers (who now feature Luka Dončić in this 2026 reality) is arguably the best in the league. These two teams genuinely don't seem to like each other. The Lakers are 5th in the West, Denver is 3rd. This game will have a playoff atmosphere in January.
Thursday's Streaming Focus
Amazon Prime Video has grabbed a chunk of the mid-week schedule. On Thursday, January 22, they’re showing:
- Golden State Warriors vs. Dallas Mavericks (7:30 PM ET)
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers (10:00 PM ET)
The "Hallway Series" between the Lakers and Clippers is always intense, but with both teams jockeying for top-4 seeding in the West, the stakes feel higher than usual.
The Weekend Sizzlers
Friday and Saturday are packed with games that carry massive "E-E-A-T" value for basketball junkies—meaning, these are the games where the real tactical nuances of the season will be revealed.
On Friday, January 23, the Indiana Pacers visit Oklahoma City. This is a rematch of the 2025 NBA Finals. If you want to see if Indiana has recovered from their slow start (9-31), this is the game. OKC is relentless, but the Pacers have a habit of playing up to their competition.
Saturday, January 24, has a 2:00 PM ET tip-off on ABC featuring the New York Knicks at the Philadelphia 76ers. This is pure Atlantic Division chaos. The Knicks are currently 2nd in the East, while the Sixers are 5th. This is a potential second-round playoff preview. Later that night, the Boston Celtics visit the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are retiring Derrick Rose’s jersey at halftime. Expect that crowd to be absolutely electric.
Managing the Injury Bug
You can't talk about the NBA schedule next week without mentioning who won't be playing. Injuries are currently wrecking some of the league's top rosters.
The Denver Nuggets are in a tough spot. Nikola Jokić is currently out with a bone bruise in his left knee. Without him, the Nuggets' offense often looks like a car trying to run without an engine. Aaron Gordon is also dealing with a hamstring strain.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers are managing LeBron James’ "foot arthritis and sciatica." He’s 41. It’s expected. But with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura also sidelined with calf issues, the load on Luka Dončić is becoming immense.
The Orlando Magic, however, just got some good news. Moritz Wagner finally returned from a year-long ACL recovery. His presence in the frontcourt is huge as the Magic prepare for their international games and this upcoming week.
Why You Should Care About the Mid-Seed Logjam
Look at the Western Conference standings. The gap between the 5th seed (Lakers) and the 8th seed (Warriors) is only a few games. One bad week can send a team into the play-in zone.
Next week’s schedule is designed to break these ties.
Teams like the Phoenix Suns (24-15) and Houston Rockets (22-14) are playing multiple games against conference rivals. If Houston can sweep their games against San Antonio and Detroit, they could vault into the top four. If Phoenix falters during their East Coast swing—including games against Brooklyn and New York—they could slide.
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How to Handle Your Viewership
If you’re trying to catch the best of the NBA schedule next week, don't just rely on standard cable. The broadcast rights are split up more than ever this season.
- Monday: Peacock and local networks are your best bet for the MLK day marathon.
- Tuesday/Sunday: NBC is the home for the big "Game of the Week" style matchups.
- Wednesday/Friday: ESPN still holds the traditional mid-week doubleheaders.
- Thursday: Keep your Amazon Prime login handy.
Basically, keep an eye on the injury reports about 30 minutes before tip-off. With the way teams are "managing" stars in 2026, a marquee matchup can turn into a bench-warmer battle in a heartbeat.
Keep your eyes on the Detroit Pistons. No, really. They are 28-10. Watching a young core actually figure out how to win is the most refreshing thing in the league right now. Whether they can hold off a surging Knicks team or the veteran Celtics is the main storyline for the rest of January.
Check your local listings for the specific regional blackouts, especially for those 7:30 PM starts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Most of these games are available on NBA League Pass if you're out of market, but the nationally televised ones will be locked behind their respective streamers or networks.
Plan your Monday around the 1:00 PM ET tip-offs. It’s the best way to spend the holiday. Be sure to check the active rosters for the Lakers and Nuggets on Thursday, as those "probable" tags can change quickly during morning shootarounds. If Jokić and LeBron are both out, that TNT doubleheader loses some luster, but the young talent on those rosters usually steps up in high-pressure games.
Double-check the start times for the Saturday ABC game between the Knicks and Sixers; that 2:00 PM ET slot is earlier than their usual weekend prime-time games. If you're a fantasy manager, make sure your lineups are set by Sunday night, as the Monday holiday schedule usually means early locks across most platforms.