When Does The NBA Season Start? 2022 Opening Night Schedule Features Warriors, Lakers, Celtics, 76ers

Basketball is back and soon there will be meaningful games on the schedule. The 2022-23 NBA regular season starts just a few short weeks after the first exhibition contest.

When does the NBA season start? Opening Night 2022 is set for Tuesday, Oct. 18 with four of the league's marquee teams on the schedule.

The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers in the very first game of the regular season. The contest starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

TNT's doubleheader on Opening Night concludes with a matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. The game starts at 10 p.m. ET.

Golden State will play at home on Opening Night in its first regular season game since winning the championship. The Warriors won their fourth title since 2015, defeating the Celtics in six games in the Finals.

The Warriors are the defending champs, but it's the Celtics that have entered the preseason as favorites to win the next title. Boston has the best odds for the 2023 Finals, even after head coach Ime Udoka was suspended for the entire season.

Philadelphia has hopes of making a championship run with James Harden on the team for a full season. The 76ers acquired Harden at the 2022 trade deadline. Joel Embiid was hampered by injuries in the postseason, and Philadelphia was eliminated in the second round.

The Lakers didn't even qualify for the play-in tournament last season as LeBron James and Anthony Davis dealt with injuries throughout the year. Unsuccessful in their attempts to trade Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles' "Big 3" is back for a second season together.

The Warriors defeated the Lakers 121-114 on Opening Night 2021. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 21 points. James and Davis combined to score 67 points, while Westbrook had eight points and four turnovers.

Twenty-four teams will make their season debuts on Wednesday, Oct. 19.