The 2025-26 NBA season is right around the corner, so fans are gearing up for the new campaign. PFSN recently looked at the five teams with the hardest schedule, but which squads will have the easiest schedule this season?
While taking into account the opponents they’ll face, miles traveled, the number of back-to-backs, specific stretches, and other factors, PFSN determined the five squads with the most favorable slate.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t need any help from the schedule makers after winning 64 games a season ago and arguably getting better after acquiring reserve guard Lonzo Ball this summer.
But they got help, especially early in the season.
From Oct. 31 to Nov. 23, the Cavaliers play 13 games, 10 of which will be at Rocket Arena, their home venue.
And those away games? They’ll be in Washington, D.C., against the Washington Wizards, and then in Miami for a two-game, three-day stint against the Heat.
The Wizards won just 18 games last season and made no significant changes this offseason. Meanwhile, the Heat were swept by the Cavaliers in the first round, losing by an average of 30.5 points, including an embarrassing 55-point season-ending loss in Game 4.
Add in that the first five of those home games come against non-playoff teams from a year ago, and Cleveland — already seen as one of, if not the favorite in the East — should be collecting wins in bunches early in the season.
New York Knicks
While divisions in the NBA are essentially meaningless, they are a significant part of the schedule.
There are six divisions in the NBA, each composed of five teams. Division teams play each other four times per season, resulting in 16 matchups per team. That’s nearly a fifth of the entire schedule, a considerable amount if there’s a particularly weak division.
For the 2025-26 season, that division is shaping up to be the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division: the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and Toronto Raptors.
Looking at last year’s standings, the Knicks and Celtics were two teams that made the playoffs. Three teams finished 11-13 in the conference standings, falling way short of the play-in tournament.
This season, the Celtics will undoubtedly take a step back with Jayson Tatum sidelined with an Achilles tear and the trades of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.
While the 76ers boast star power in Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, injuries have plagued them for years, hindering their ability to contend for a serious championship. The Raptors improved by adding Brandon Ingram before the 2025 trade deadline, but their ceiling is likely limited to play-in territory due to fit issues. The Nets are in the midst of a rebuild.
The Knicks are the lone team that has improved considerably, hiring new coach Mike Brown and adding depth to their roster’s edges to complement their star quartet of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, O.G. Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges.
With 16 games against the downward-pointing Celtics, injury-prone 76ers, questionably fitting Raptors, and tanking Nets, New York will be in a good position to capitalize on their soft division on their way to what should be a high seed in the East standings.
Charlotte Hornets
Cue the hype train for the Charlotte Hornets — at least in the first two and a half weeks of the season.
Coming off a season in which Charlotte won just 19 games, the third-fewest in the league, the LaMelo Ball-led Hornets will be looking for any positive signs in 2025. They should be better than last season with ascending third-year forward Brandon Miller and 2025 No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel now in the fold.
But we may know the verdict on that statement early on, as the Hornets have a cushy first nine games.
Of those contests, they’ll face five teams that didn’t come close to sniffing the playoffs in 2024: the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans, Nets, 76ers, and Wizards. Two of their four games against playoff teams are against the Heat, who, as mentioned, might as well not have shown up against the Cavaliers in their 1-8 matchup.
The remaining games are at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Orlando Magic. Both teams have young stars in Anthony Edwards and Paolo Banchero, respectively. This serves as a nice measuring stick for Ball and Miller, sandwiched between seven very winnable games.
Milwaukee Bucks
Assuming the Milwaukee Bucks still have superstar and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on the roster past the trade deadline, they should be in contention for a playoff spot — if not, things would have gone terribly wrong.
With that in mind, they’ll finish the season with what could be a nice springboard into the playoffs. If they’re in a battle for seeding, they should also have the upper hand.
From April 3 on, their schedule is as follows:
Friday, April 3 — vs. Boston CelticsSunday, April 5 — vs. Memphis GrizzliesTuesday, April 7 — @ Brooklyn NetsWednesday, April 8 — @ Detroit PistonsFriday, April 10 — vs. Brooklyn NetsSunday, April 12 — @ Philadelphia 76ers
For those keeping track at home, that’s three of six games against non-playoff teams from a year ago. The Grizzlies were the West’s eighth seed. The Oklahoma City Thunder easily swept them. And, as mentioned, the Celtics are set to take a significant step back.
An argument could be made that the Pistons also took a step back, as both high-level shooters, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley, will not be back this season. They could be in a fight with Milwaukee for postseason seeding — something the Bucks should be favored to come out on top, thanks to this advantageous finish to the season.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers made a significant leap last season, finishing strong post-All-Star break and coming within striking distance of the final play-in spot. They should be even better this season, following the acquisition of lockdown defender Jrue Holiday and the continued improvement of their young core.
Making the playoffs should be the goal — and the first step to making that happen is winning the games the Trail Blazers should win.
Included in their schedule are 15 games against notable teams, including the Utah Jazz (4), Phoenix Suns (3), Washington Wizards (2), Brooklyn Nets (2), Chicago Bulls (2), and Charlotte Hornets (2). Of those 15, Portland could realistically be favored in 12, excluding road games that occur during East Coast trips.
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Suppose the Trail Blazers can go 12-3 in those 15 games; that would set them up nicely for the rest of their schedule. Going .500 against the rest of the league would put them in the mid-40s in terms of wins, a mark that should be good enough for either a playoff or play-in spot.
We’ll see if head coach Chauncey Billups’ squad makes it come to fruition, but the formula of beating a high number of low-tier teams is there for the Trail Blazers.