The 2025-26 NBA schedule has been released, and, inevitably, some teams will draw the short end of the stick as far as difficulty.
The reason for difficulty doesn’t start and end with the opponents they’ll face, however, as other factors such as miles traveled, number of back-to-backs, a tough beginning or ending slate to the season, and other reasons can determine how favorable — or in this case, unfavorable a team’s schedule can be.
For this piece, we highlighted the five NBA teams with the toughest scheduling draw in the 2025-26 season.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers dealt with a litany of injuries to their most important players a season ago, as each of Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, and Jared McCain missed significant time. Embiid (31 years old), George (35), and Lowry (39) are not getting any younger.
That’s why the 76ers’ tying for the league lead in most back-to-backs (16) is particularly harsh. Early predictions would probably sideline Embiid for rest in each back-to-back, with George and Lowry possibly sitting out for the same reason.
That would leave a core of Maxey, McCain, and 2025 third-round pick VJ Edgecombe as the leaders on those back-to-back nights. As was displayed last season, the duo of Maxey and McCain, while a talented backcourt, didn’t produce wins.
The Embiid era of Philadelphia basketball is quickly expiring, and the NBA schedule-makers are doing little to help.
Denver Nuggets
For the Denver Nuggets, it’s not just that they are tied with the 76ers with 16 back-to-backs, but they’re also tied for the league-low with just 12 games against teams on the second night of a back-to-back. Whether it’s a schedule gaffe or not, the Nuggets must live with that reality this season.
Like Philadelphia, Denver’s core isn’t particularly youthful. Nikola Jokić (30) is obviously the headliner who’s stayed incredibly durable throughout his career, but Jamal Murray (28) has dealt with a number of injuries. Aaron Gordon is just 29 but has logged 11 years of service in the league. New addition Cam Johnson has also suffered from injuries, appearing in 42, 58, and 57 games the past three seasons.
For a veteran-laden team with hopes of contending for a championship, it’s an unideal draw considering their high number of back-to-backs combined with a low number of games against other teams on back-to-backs.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns underwent a roster overhaul this offseason, sending out future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and what turned into rookie Khaman Maluach. They also acquired Charlotte Hornets Mark Williams on draft night, further fortifying the center position.
That leaves Devin Booker and an interesting ensemble of supporters, especially considering the backcourt fit alongside Green.
While they aren’t projected to be in the mix for a top-six seed in the playoffs, Booker is good enough to put them in contention for a play-in spot in the season’s final month.
But that’s where it gets difficult.
Three of Phoenix’s final four games come against Western Conference playoff participants from a season ago, with the Dallas Mavericks as the lone squad that missed out — but they should be much better with the duo of Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis for a full season.
The schedule goes as follows:
Tuesday, April 7 — vs. Houston RocketsWednesday, April 8 — vs. Dallas MavericksFriday, April 10 — @ Los Angeles LakersSunday, April 12 — @ Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s a star-studded slate highlighted by Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Luka Dončić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — although there is a significant possibility that the Thunder rest their starters for the final game of the regular season.
Regardless, it’s not an easy finish to the season for the Suns, especially if these games become critical for their play-in chances.
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers face the opposite difficulty to the Suns, as they walk into a daunting first couple of weeks of their season. To kick the season off, they host the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder at home — which is surely to be an emotionally charged atmosphere, as they lost in seven games to the Thunder in the 2025 NBA Finals.
After that, they’ll head on a three-game road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves (on a back-to-back), and Dallas Mavericks. A four-game home stint follows against the Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Brooklyn Nets. Then, they have a back-to-back on the road against the Nuggets and Warriors.
In all, they face just one team (the Nets) that isn’t expected to be in the playoff hunt. For a team having to deal with Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, easing Andrew Nembhard into his first games handling full-time point guard duties, and having to replace center Myles Turner, expectations could be tempered real quick in Indiana.
Orlando Magic
Per Bookies.com, the Orlando Magic will travel over 55,000 miles during the entire 2025-26 season, the most in the league. That’s a lot of time on a plane, and it could surely affect the amount of rest players get.
And it’s not just Orlando’s location that disfavors the Magic in this situation, as the Miami Heat are in a relatively similar Southern location, and the Portland Trail Blazers are tucked away in the Pacific Northwest. It’s just how the schedule falls, as the Heat rank seventh on the list and the Trail Blazers third.
Orlando will rack up a significant chunk of miles between January 15 and 18, when they travel overseas to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in Germany and London.
The schedule-makers were kind to give them three days between their trip to Europe and four days before their next game on the way back, but it still messes with a player’s internal clock and could affect their play.
That, in addition to traveling a slew of miles within the States, could be fatiguing for the Magic this season.