Today's Action: Tuesday, October 20 — NBA Opening Night Tripleheader + a Possible ALCS Game 7

The NBA is back, and it isn't easing in. Tuesday brings a national tripleheader stacked with real storylines: a banner going up at the Garden, LeBron in a Sixers jersey, Tatum's return, and a Finals-rematch-that-wasn't between OKC and San Antonio. And if Cleveland forces it tonight, there's an ALCS Game 7 in St. Pete sitting on top of all of it. Clear the evening.

Today's Top Matchups

NBA | Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons — 3:00 PM ET (NBC/Peacock)
The season tips in Detroit, and both teams look different from last spring. Jayson Tatum is back from the Achilles and looked sharp in the preseason. Paul George replaces Jaylen Brown, who was traded to Philly. Detroit was the East's 1-seed at 60-22 before a Game 7 exit to Cleveland, and Cade Cunningham (23.9 points, 9.9 assists last year) runs a deeper rotation with John Collins on board.
The Edge: Detroit is better positioned. Home floor, continuity, and Cade against a Boston group still learning how Tatum and George fit together. Derrick White on Cade is the matchup to watch, but the Pistons have the cleaner setup in Game 1.

NBA | Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks — 7:00 PM ET (NBC/Peacock; ring ceremony 6:30 PM ET)
This is the main event. The defending champs raise their first banner in more than 50 years, and the opponent is a rebuilt Sixers team: LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown playing their first real game together. Jalen Brunson and an intact title rotation are waiting. Josh Hart (ankle) practiced fully Monday, and Philly arrives with a crowded injury report.
The Edge: The Knicks have the edge. Banner nights are emotional, but New York's real advantage is chemistry: they know their rotations and the Sixers are still figuring theirs out. Everyone will tune in for LeBron's debut, and plenty of fans will pick the superteam on name value. That's a classic spot to fade the public.

NBA | Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs — 9:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM CT (NBC/Peacock)
Last year's Western Conference Finals, run back. San Antonio knocked out OKC before falling to the Knicks in the Finals, and Victor Wembanyama enters as reigning Defensive Player of the Year and a real MVP candidate. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a two-time MVP, has something to prove. Chet Holmgren is battling a quad injury and could miss the opener, and the Spurs open without Tobias Harris.
The Edge: The Spurs are better positioned if Holmgren sits. OKC without its best rim protector against Wemby in a loud building is a tough ask. Most people are sleeping on how much Holmgren's status shapes this matchup. If he plays, it's a coin flip with SGA as the tiebreaker.

MLB | Cleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay Rays — ALCS Game 7 (if necessary), 8:00 PM ET (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
Tampa Bay leads 3-2 and can close it out in Game 6 tonight. If Cleveland wins, Tuesday becomes the best night of the week: a winner-take-all Game 7 at Tropicana Field for a trip to the World Series against Milwaukee, which opens Friday. Cleveland has leaned on its bullpen all series, and arms will be thin by a Game 7.
The Edge: If it comes to a Game 7, Tampa Bay has the better setup. Home park, a rested rotation behind Freddy Peralta, and a Cleveland bullpen running on fumes after two straight elimination games. Still, a team that just survived elimination is dangerous, and Cleveland has been this series' grinder.

Also on the board: The NHL has a full Tuesday slate around the hoops. Colorado visits New Jersey and Toronto heads to Columbus, both at 7:00 PM ET. Both are worth a flip during NBA timeouts, especially the Avalanche, whose pace makes them one of the best watches in the league in October. For the late crowd, Detroit at Seattle closes out the night on the West Coast.

The FadeThePublic Gear Call

Opening night is the start of a seven-month grind. Add a possible Game 7 and Tuesday is a full sports day. You'll be bouncing between the Garden, St. Pete and San Antonio, so wear something that works for all of it. Our Best Sellers collection is where the regulars start: the hats people actually wear on game day, whatever's on the screen.

Banner up, LeBron in red, white and blue, Wemby on the prowl. Basketball is back, and Tuesday's card is a good one.