While there were a few leaks and rumors leading up to the release, the 2015-16 schedule was mostly a mystery prior to Wednesday. The entire 82-game slate is now out and is highlighted with a number of great prime time and Christmas Day matchups. It will all begin on October 27 when both the defending champion Golden State Warriors and the NBA runner up Cleveland Cavaliers will be in action.

There will be a total of 143 national TV games, split across ABC, ESPN and TNT. The stars will be on display during those contests, led by LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The Cavs and Warriors are each scheduled to play 25 national TV games. The Clippers and Thunder are right behind with 24 games in the national spotlight. National audiences will have a harder time watching the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers. The three are not scheduled to play any national TV games.

Here are some of the highlights of the schedule as well as a rundown of all the full team schedules. All times Eastern.

8 p.m. Pistons vs. Hawks

8 p.m. Bulls vs. Cavaliers

10:30 p.m. Warriors vs. Pelicans

Complete look at the opening week schedule.

12 p.m. Pelicans vs. Heat

2:30 p.m. Bulls vs. Thunder

5 p.m. Cavaliers vs. Warriors

8 p.m. Spurs vs. Rockets

10:30 p.m. Lakers vs. Clippers

The schedule is loaded with good games and intriguing matchups. Some stand out more than others and here are 10 of our favorites. Here is a more detailed rundown of why each of the following 10 games made our list.

1. Clippers at Mavericks, Nov. 11

2. Spurs at Thunder, Oct. 28

3. Cavaliers at Warriors, Dec. 25

4. Pelicans at Warriors, Oct. 27

5. Thunder at Wizards, Nov. 10

6. Spurs at Warriors, Jan 25

7. Clippers at Warriors, Nov. 4

8. Heat at Cavaliers, Oct. 30

9. Rockets at Clippers, Nov. 7

10. Spurs at Trail Blazers, No. 11

Back-to-back games and stretches of four games in five nights can be brutal for teams and even wear them down. There is a bit of schedule luck involved and this year the Suns and Timberwolves caught it. Both have just 14 back-to-backs. The Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Clippers and Bucks weren't as fortunate and will play back-to-back games 20 times this season.



Back to backs 4 games, 5 nights Atlanta 19 2 Boston 19 1 Brooklyn 15 1 Charlotte 16 0 Chicago 17 1 Cleveland 19 1 Dallas 17 1 Denver 16 2 Detroit 20 0 Golden State 20 0 Houston 20 0 Indiana 17 0 LA Clippers 20 1 LA Lakers 18 1 Memphis 18 0 Miami 17 1 Milwaukee 20 1 Minnesota 14 2 New Orleans 17 1 New York 17 0 Oklahoma City 16 1 Orlando 19 1 Philadelphia 19 2 Phoenix 14 1 Portland 19 2 Sacramento 19 1 San Antonio 17 0 Toronto 17 1 Utah 18 1 Washington 19 1

Team-by-team schedule

National TV games, back-to-backs, games to circle on the calendar and much more.

Atlanta Hawks

Boston Celtics

Brooklyn Nets

Charlotte Hornets

Chicago Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers

Dallas Mavericks

Denver Nuggets

Detroit Pistons

Golden State Warriors

Houston Rockets

Indiana Pacers

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers

Memphis Grizlies

Miami Heat

Milwaukee Bucks

Minnesota Timberwolves

New Orleans Pelicans

New York Knicks

Oklahoma City Thunder

Orlando Magic

Philadelphia 76ers

Phoenix Suns

Portland Trail Blazers

Sacramento Kings

San Antonio Spurs

Toronto Raptors

Utah Jazz

Washington Wizards