The NBA season is back after a hectic offseason with an exciting triple-header on Tuesday. The New York Knicks return as defending champions and face off against the new-look Philadelphia 76ers (7 PM ET). Before that, however, the Boston Celtics open the regular season on the road against the Detroit Pistons (3 PM ET). To wrap up the opening slate, the San Antonio Spurs host the Oklahoma City Thunder (9:30 PM ET).

Each of these games features some of the best talent in the league, and should make for an exhilarating opening day/night. Before the games, here are five things to watch out for in the day’s matchups.

Ausar Thompson’s Matchup Against Jayson Tatum

Last season, the Celtics were 1-3 against the Pistons throughout the regular season. Detroit ended up as the one seed, while the Celtics earned the second seed. A lot of Detroit’s success came from their offensive rebounding, which Ausar Thompson played a part in. However, Tatum wasn’t available for any of those matchups, and the Celtics have drastically improved as a rebounding team.

Thompson has emerged as an elite defender in the league and will likely draw the Tatum matchup. This is as good of a matchup for Tatum that you can ask for if you are Detroit. Thompson has the size and physicality to match Tatum. However, this will be a statement game for Boston, because it’s officially Tatum’s team now. Tatum and the Celtics will be looking to pick up right where they left off, but Thompson and Detroit should have other plans.

Chet Holmgren Against San Antonio Spurs

Chet Holmgren received a lot of flak last playoffs against the Spurs. His role was minimized by Victor Wembanyama’s presence, and he couldn’t do much for the Thunder, which led to their series loss. Holmgren is a great player, but his limitations were exposed in the playoffs, and he should look to prove the doubters wrong on opening night.

It will be interesting to see if Holmgren and the Thunder have made any changes to their approach. Holmgren can be effective both offensively and defensively, which is what makes him a great player. His production may not lead to more scoring, but keep an eye on whether he at least looks more aggressive.

Philadelphia 76ers Game Plan

Philadelphia made some major changes to their roster, bringing in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. That means that they will share the floor along with Philadelphia’s other stars, which seems like a great thing on paper. This team truly has tons of star talent, which could become an issue. Tempers could flare in the locker room, and guys may become unhappy with their role. Balancing this talent may become an issue.

In their game against the Knicks, it will be interesting to see how their offense works. Will it be the longtime 76ers Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid taking a majority of the shots, or will it be some of the newcomers? This team has a drastically high ceiling in terms of what they can accomplish, but they may need to put their egos to the side. Their offensive game plan on opening night will be telling for how the rest of their season will go.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ Performance for New York Knicks

Karl-Anthony Towns played a major role in the Knicks winning a championship last season. At times, he became the hub of their offense, and although he didn’t have a great regular season, he stepped up for them in the playoffs. He took on a role as a playmaker and became a glue guy. He did whatever it took to bring a trophy to New York.

When it was announced that Towns and the Knicks couldn’t agree on an extension, it came as a surprise. Towns is now 30 years old and has been an elite player in the league for a decade now. He had maybe his most inefficient year last season since his rookie year, but again, he was huge in the playoffs. Towns wants to be appreciated by New York, but their front office may view it differently. His performance tonight, and for the rest of the season, will be the determining factor in whether he receives a max contract.

Spurs’ Rotation

The Spurs hit the jackpot, landing the second pick in the 2025 draft and being gifted Dylan Harper. Unfortunately, that has created some internal issues, because they also have two other guards worthy of starting. Harper was arguably the Spurs’ second-best player in the Finals last season as a teenager. Bringing him off the bench once again threatens his development. So it’s a good thing head coach Mitch Johnson said he would start all three.

That doesn’t solve all of their issues, though. They also have guys like Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell who are used to starting. They brought in Tobias Harris this offseason to play alongside Wembanyama. Carter Bryant needs to be developed, and they will want to see what rookies Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Redd Jr. are capable of. The Spurs are a successful young team, but finding out what their rotation should be early on is a must. All three guards can start, but that may not fix their problems.