As viewers, these first two weeks of pro basketball are something of a calisthenic warmup. We adjust to seeing veteran players in new places — woah, Doug McDermott is a King, and Patty Mills is on the Jazz! We recalibrate our eye for the game and sketch out expectations.

It’s no surprise that the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder look dominant. But it’s definitely weird seeing the Milwaukee Bucks flounder at 1-5. Who had Tre Mann scoring 19.2 a night?

We should feel more settled into the NBA this forthcoming week, with a few juicy matchups and an NBA Finals rematch on tap. Here’s your watch guide for the nationally televised games of the week ahead — whether you’re a hardcore fan, in it to gamble or just looking for a basic storyline to appreciate.

Full NBA national TV schedule

For games Nov. 4-10, all times Eastern

Time: Monday, 7 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

For the new fan: Mobley and Giannis Antetokounmpo, both 6-foot-11, seem to distort the laws of physics on a nightly basis. Milwaukee may be struggling, but this sport promises few things more thrilling than the icy fourth-quarter version of Damian Lillard. And if you’re a basketball newcomer of the reality TV persuasion, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers is an unintentional conduit for drama and comedy in equal measure.

Getting in on the action: Evan Mobley is a rising star for fantasy players. And he’s moving up the betting boards, currently sitting at +1400 on BetMGM for both Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player. The new offense has opened space and shots for the 23-year-old. He continues to improve his efficiency and range and is jamming the stat sheet with career-high averages in points (17.7), steals (1.0), defensive rebounds (7.3), free-throw percentage (89.5) and 3-point percentage (41.7). The Bucks (1-5) have been moneyline favorites in five of their first six games and have lost four of those games outright.

Because ball is life: The Cavaliers are playing some masterful basketball. New head coach, Kenny Atkinson, has his group 7-0, third in net rating and first in true shooting percentage. Consider Cleveland’s pace of play rankings from the last six seasons: 22, 30, 26, 25, 23, 29. They’re the 11th-fastest team in the league this year.

Buzzer-beaters:

• Milwaukee has four over Cleveland — Brian Winters (1980), Ricky Pierce (1985), Michael Redd (2008) and Brandon Jennings (2012)
• Cleveland has two over Milwaukee — Chris Mills (1994), Mo Williams (2010)

Time: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

For the new fan: Stephen Curry became a public enemy in Boston after dominating the 2022 NBA Finals. His iconic “night night” celebration on the TD Garden floor wrapped up a hostile championship series. Celtics fans will let him hear it Wednesday night.

Getting in on the action: The Celtics start the week at 6-1. The Warriors are 5-1. This night could be the rare one to get a perpetual contender at modest moneyline odds. A Boston vs. Golden State Finals future pays out at +3500 right now.

Because ball is life: This is a marquee matchup with historic significance. A decade ago, Steve Kerr and the Warriors ushered in basketball’s 3-point revolution and fashioned their decorated “Death Lineup” around perimeter flexibility and off-ball movement. Today’s reigning champion Celtics are the platonic ideal of that philosophy. These are two of the top teams in 3-pointers made. They’ll let it fly.

Best all-time matchup: 2022 NBA Finals

• Stephen Curry 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.0 steals

Time: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

For the new fan: Durant is the Michelangelo of putting the ball in the hoop. Irving’s dribble-handle snaps the opposition’s ankles. Booker and Thompson have silky jump shots. Oh, and Dončić delights in humiliating this Suns’ team. Even if you haven’t seen him play, you may have seen the meme of Dončić grinning after vanquishing the Suns on their home court.

Getting in on the action: The Mavericks have the second-best odds to win the Western Conference (+550) on BetMGM. Luka Dončić is second in MVP odds (+300) as well. Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson are two of the most bet-on NBA players in this young campaign.

Because ball is life: Kevin Durant’s Suns tenure has made for a strained watch. It was supposed to be a chance at basketball nirvana and carve new heights for Devin Booker’s stardom. But Phoenix has just one playoff series win in two years with Durant, and there’s been a tacit awkwardness around this underachieving squad. New point guard Tyus Jones may be the corrective we’ve been waiting for. Six games in, the Suns are humming at 5-1.

“What a relief,” Booker told Law Murray about Jones’ addition.

Dallas is also loaded with scorers, but they’ve now morphed into one of the NBA’s most formidable defenses. Fans can look forward to an awesome matchup.

Starting five of players to wear both jerseys:

• G Steve Nash
• G Jason Kidd
• F Michael Finley
• F Shawn Marion
• C Tyson Chandler

Time: Friday, 10 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

For the new fan: LeBron James is one of the great wonders of American culture. His sustained command over the sport feels almost supernatural. Consider that new Sixers forward Paul George is the only active player from the 2010 draft class – which took the court after James’ seventh NBA season. George is expected to make his season debut on Monday. He may have even shaken off some rust by this Friday matchup.

Getting in on the action: Anthony Davis smashed the points over in his first four games playing for new head coach JJ Redick. He’s currently sixth in MVP odds (+1400) on BetMGM. A Friday night showcase against Embiid will get the narrative moving one way or another.

Because ball is life: Joel Embiid’s oft-injured knees have truncated a remarkable young talent. We should savor every appearance he makes on a national stage. When available, his play recalls shades of Hakeem Olajuwon or a futuristic reboot of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In nine career games against LeBron James, Embiid has averaged 28.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

One emoji for this game: ⭐

Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs

Time: Saturday, 5 p.m. ET
TV: NBA TV
Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

For the new fan: Wembanyama, of course. He’s the real-life Mr. Fantastic.

Getting in on the action: The Jazz may be an early candidate for Fade of the Year. And even if Vegas doesn’t quite condition them like this year’s Chicago White Sox, they will be prime candidates for get-right games in fantasy.

Because ball is life: It’s undeniably cool watching Chris Paul and Gregg Popovich — two of the most celebrated basketball minds of all time, each on the verge of retirement — pour into the development of Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs likely aren’t disrupting the West this year. But we very well could remember this iteration of Wembanyama as the quaint last stage before his full takeover.

Funniest moment: Robert Horry said the only time he heard Tim Duncan talk trash was before a game in Utah. A mere mention of Carlos Boozer riled up the famously reticent Hall of Famer.

(Photo of Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum: Winslow Townson / USA TODAY Sports)