The Los Angeles Lakers’ 2025-26 regular-season slate is packed with marquee events such as Opening Night against Golden State and a Christmas clash with Houston, but Lakers Nation analysts have identified a series of quieter dates they believe could carry outsized importance.
Trevor Lane’s watch list
Nov. 15 at Milwaukee Bucks – The finale of a five-game trip lands on the second night of a back-to-back, following a flight from New Orleans. Lane views the contest as the season’s first clear look at head coach JJ Redick’s fatigue management plan, especially regarding 41-year-old LeBron James and the use of deeper bench pieces.
Dec. 30 vs. Detroit Pistons – Los Angeles dropped both meetings with Detroit last season, struggling with perimeter quickness and Jalen Duren’s interior presence. Even with Luka Dončić now in purple and gold, Lane says the matchup will test the club’s ability to handle explosive wings Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson while giving Deandre Ayton a physical challenge inside.
Feb. 5 vs. Philadelphia 76ers – Tip-off comes only hours after the NBA trade deadline. Lane notes the game’s intrigue centers on which players will still be wearing Laker uniforms once the transaction window closes.
April 9 at Golden State Warriors – Although the teams open the season together, Lane believes this late-season meeting—the last game in a four-game stretch for Los Angeles—could weigh heavily on Western Conference playoff seeding.
Daniel Starkand’s selections
Nov. 5 vs. San Antonio Spurs – San Antonio’s addition of De’Aaron Fox alongside Victor Wembanyama gives JJ Redick’s roster a size-and-speed puzzle to solve. Starkand expects the first of several future duels between franchises built around Dončić and Wembanyama.
Nov. 25 vs. Los Angeles Clippers – The city rivalry doubles as an NBA Cup group-stage fixture. With both clubs projected to top their pool, Starkand points out that the winner could take a decisive step toward the in-season tournament’s knockout round.
Jan. 2 and 4 vs. Memphis Grizzlies – Back-to-back games at Crypto.com Arena may reignite tensions after Ja Morant voiced displeasure with the Lakers last year. Starkand views the consecutive meetings as a potential flashpoint in an emerging rivalry.
The highlighted dates fit within a schedule already packed with national spotlights, giving the Lakers multiple early, mid-season and late-season tests beyond their headline showdowns.
Source: Lakers Nation
