Golden State Warriors NBA schedule 2022-23: Must watch games and key dates
From an early date with LeBron and the Lakers to a thrilling Christmas Day appointment with the young guns of Memphis, join us for a look at the Warriors’ key games.
Now that the NBA’s full regular season schedule is out, it’s time to take a look at the key games for the Golden State Warriors. If the Dubs are to defend their title, these are the games where they will need to prevail.
The key games for the Warriors in the 2022-23 NBA regular season
It seems laughable now that many considered Steph Curry and Co. to be in the twilight of their careers when the last season started. Yet, a year later and one more championship in the bag, it will be interesting to see how the likes of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green along with their talisman Curry, respond to what is likely to be increased pressure when the season gets underway. With that said, let’s take a look at the matchups which they will need to win this coming season.
October 18th - Los Angeles Lakers
While it would be a stretch to call the Lakers contenders at this point - a big stretch - the fact remains that if LeBron James and Anthony Davis are fit and ready to go, this will be an intense affair. There is of course the unlikely possibility that we could see Russell Westbrook - assuming he stays - regain the form that brought him to LA in the first place, but what’s more probable is that Curry and Co. once again rain on the Lakers parade.
October 25th - Phoenix Suns
Without doubt, all eyes will be on Curry and Chris Paul when the Dubs travel to Phoenix. There are those who give Paul the nod when it comes to best point guard out there, but we’re willing to bet that Curry will point to his six NBA Finals appearances and four rings. To add further context to this one, is the fact that though they were ranked No. 1 overall last season, The Suns didn’t even make it to the Conference Finals. Rest assured, if there is one team that’s equipped to handle the Warriors it’s the Suns. With the likes of Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Mikel Bridges, expect fireworks in this one.
November 4th - New Orleans Pelicans
With Zion Williamson set to make his long-awaited return to the court, Brandon Ingram on the verge of genuine greatness and CJ McCollum happily on the roster, the Pelicans may well be the best young team in the league. The Pelicans have a decent coach in Willie Green and should be confident ahead of their date with the Warriors, but also about their chances for this season as a whole. Can they return to the playoffs for a second year running? We think they can.
November 23rd - Los Angeles Clippers
If there is one thing we can say about this contest, it’s that there is no love lost between the two teams. During the 2010s the Clippers were basically THE rival of the Warriors. A team that had championship aspirations back in 2019, the Clippers will be looking to show they aren’t an ‘also competed’ team. Indeed, with the return of top tier talent like Kawhi Leonard and the presence of Paul George and newly acquired John Wall, the Clippers could well be the biggest threat to the Warriors in the Western Conference this season.
November 27th - Minnesota Timberwolves
The T’Wolves are an interesting bunch. With an equal record of 5-5 against the Warriors across their last 10 games, this is a team that can most definitely compete with the defending champions. Anthony Edwards is about to be an NBA All-Star and there are the other usual suspects like Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, but then they’ve also recently added Rudy Gobert so that’s all to say, keep an eye on these boys.
December 10th - Boston Celtics
The game we all want to see. A rematch of last season’s Finals, expect this one to be every bit as contentious as the ones we witnessed just a few months ago. One can imagine that the Warriors have not forgotten when Grant Williams said they “were not the better team.” As Curry, Thompson and Green have shown us time and time again, they don’t take disrespect lightly so the smart money would be on a repeat of what the Warriors served to the Celtics not too long ago.
December 13th - Milwaukee Bucks
A statement. That’s what either team will be hoping to make when they face off in December. The Bucks will no doubt still be sore after missing out on last season’s Finals following a 7-game thriller which they lost to the Celtics. With star Khris Middleton now back in the mix and Giannis still as he always is, this could well be one of the most intriguing games of the season. That is until they square off against each other once again when March rolls around next year.
December 16th - Philadelphia 76ers
Let’s be honest here, the Sixers have all the makings of a championship contender. Joel Embiid needs no introduction, Tyrese Maxey is as good as any combo guard in the league, Tobias Harris can manufacture points from all over the court and then there is ‘The Beard’ himself, James Harden. Now more committed than ever, Harden has made it clear that he intends to improve his fitness. Should that be the case then we know what he’s capable of. All things considered, this could be one of the biggest games of the season.
December 21st - Brooklyn Nets
On the one side the Warriors will be approaching this one with a ‘business as usual’ attitude. Afterall not only did Curry post 37 against the Nets last season in what turned out to be a clinic, but the team as whole shot 51.9% from the field. That’s without mentioning the sensational job they did on defense, limiting Kevin Durant and Harden to just 12-of-32 shooting between them. Yet, we’ve got the other side and that’s to say the Nets will be looking to reestablish themselves as the team many believed would go to the Finals. At this point, it’s more a question of which Nets team will face the Warriors with the likes of Kyrie Irving and KD still the subject of trade rumors.
December 25th (Christmas Day) - Memphis Grizzlies
So, you want a rivalry? Look no further than the boys out of Memphis. Ja Morant and Co. have put the league on notice with their high flying, defensive pestering, trash talking game and in many ways the league hasn’t had a response. Add to the mix, the fact that Memphis went to the playoffs at the Warriors expense back in 2021, only to have the Warriors return the favor this last post season and you’ve got yourself a proper pressure cooker. Of course, we didn’t even mention the heated exchanges that took place in during the series that the Warriors eventually won. It’s most definitely fitting that these two will face each other on Christmas Day, so eat, drink, be merry and then settle down in front the TV for what’s sure to be a epic game.