The new NBA season starts on Tuesday with a three-game NBC opening night. The New York Knicks, last season's champions after beating San Antonio in five games in the Finals, receive their rings before hosting the Philadelphia 76ers, who debut a new core of LeBron James, Jaylen Brown (acquired from Boston) and Dean Wade. New York swept Philadelphia in last season's second round, so this is a possible preview of the 2027 East Finals. The afternoon opener, Celtics at Pistons, features Detroit, last season's No. 1 seed in the East, against a Boston team that has traded Brown and hopes for a full season from Jayson Tatum. The late game is a Western Conference Finals rematch: Oklahoma City at San Antonio, with the Spurs having eliminated the Thunder in seven games last spring.

The rest of the week keeps the star power. Wednesday brings Giannis Antetokounmpo's Heat debut against Minnesota (and LaMelo Ball's debut for the Timberwolves), then Warriors at Lakers. On Thursday the 76ers play their home opener against Cleveland, with LeBron facing his former team, followed by Nuggets at Thunder. Friday is a Prime Video doubleheader: Knicks at Celtics and a Texas derby, Rockets vs. Spurs, played at the Moody Center in Austin.

Tue 20 Oct: Celtics at Pistons 21:00 CEST · 76ers at Knicks 01:00 (Wed) · Thunder at Spurs 03:30 (Wed)
Wed 21 Oct: Timberwolves at Heat 01:30 (Thu) · Warriors at Lakers 04:00 (Thu)
Thu 22 Oct: Cavaliers at 76ers 01:00 (Fri) · Nuggets at Thunder 03:30 (Fri)
Fri 23 Oct: Knicks at Celtics 01:00 (Sat) · Rockets vs. Spurs (Austin) 03:30 (Sat)

Nine teams have won both of their opening games: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Stuttgart, Real Betis and Sporting CP. Two of them meet on Tuesday night, when PSG (who beat Manchester City 4-2 last week) host Barcelona (4-1 winners at Galatasaray). Also on Tuesday, Liverpool (6-3 at LASK) host Villarreal, Manchester City need a response against AEK Athens, Atlético Madrid travel to Stuttgart, and Dortmund visit Azerbaijan's Sabah after losing 1-0 at Bodø/Glimt.

Wednesday's headline is Bayern vs. Arsenal: Arsenal (3-0 over Lille) are perfect, while Bayern (5-0 and a 3-3 draw at Viking) are looking for control. Real Madrid, 4-3 winners at Roma, host Leipzig, Aston Villa (6-0 over Fenerbahçe) face Viking, Inter host Shakhtar after a 4-3 loss at Club Brugge, and Como welcome Manchester United, who followed a 4-0 win over Sabah with a 2-0 defeat at Atlético.

Tuesday 20 Oct, 18:45 CEST: Fenerbahçe vs. Slavia Praha · Sabah vs. Dortmund
Tuesday 20 Oct, 21:00 CEST: Roma vs. Slovan Bratislava · Porto vs. PSV · Liverpool vs. Villarreal · Man City vs. AEK Athens · PSG vs. Barcelona · Napoli vs. Bodø/Glimt · Stuttgart vs. Atlético
Wednesday 21 Oct, 18:45 CEST: Como vs. Man United · Lille vs. Galatasaray
Wednesday 21 Oct, 21:00 CEST: Aston Villa vs. Viking · Club Brugge vs. Lens · Bayern vs. Arsenal · Inter vs. Shakhtar · Real Madrid vs. Leipzig · Real Betis vs. Feyenoord · Sporting CP vs. LASK

The league's early storyline is Connor McDavid. He has points in all eight Oilers games this season, including two goals and three assists in Saturday's 6-2 win at Utah, and sits on 23 points (6 goals, 17 assists). Edmonton's only regulation loss so far was 4-2 at Utah on Thursday, and the Oilers host Minnesota on Tuesday and Carolina on Thursday. The reigning champion Hurricanes, who beat Winnipeg 3-2 on Saturday, head to Vancouver and Edmonton on a Western road swing while missing Jordan Staal, who is out for at least a month with a torn calf.

Elsewhere, Alex Ovechkin is two assists from tying Nicklas Backstrom for the most in Capitals history (762), and the Capitals host the Kings on Tuesday. The Flames, who started 0-5, get a visit from the Wild on Thursday, and Connor Bedard's Blackhawks host the Canadiens on Friday.

Mon 19 Oct (night of Mon to Tue, CEST): Ducks at Rangers · Avalanche at Flyers 01:00 · Sharks at Maple Leafs 01:30 · Penguins at Mammoth 03:00
Tue 20 Oct (night of Tue to Wed, CEST): Kings at Capitals · Avalanche at Devils · Sharks at Canadiens 01:00 · Bruins at Stars 02:00 · Wild at Oilers 03:00 · Hurricanes at Canucks 04:00 · Lightning at Golden Knights 04:30
Wed 21 Oct (night of Wed to Thu, CEST): Panthers at Senators · Flyers at Sabres 01:30
Thu 22 Oct (night of Thu to Fri, CEST): Rangers at Maple Leafs, Panthers at Penguins 01:00 · Jets at Stars 02:00 · Hurricanes at Oilers, Wild at Flames 03:00 · Red Wings at Canucks 04:00
Fri 23 Oct (night of Fri to Sat, CEST): Canadiens at Blackhawks 02:00 · Lightning at Avalanche 03:00
All times CEST.