As expected, the 2017-18 opening week and Christmas day NBA schedules were released on Thursday evening. Not a whole lot of surprises here, but it's very exciting, nonetheless. The first game of the season will feature LeBron James (and possibly the Kyrie-less) Cavs hosting the newly acquired Gordon Hayward and the Boston Celtics on TNT. Chris Paul, James Harden and the Rockets will visit the defending NBA Champion, Golden State Warriors later that evening.
The NBA also appears to be all aboard the Philadelphia 76er's bandwagon, granting them nationally televised prime-time games on the second day of the season, and even their first Christmas day game appearance since 2001 in a visiting contest against the New York Knicks. Once again, for the third year in a row, the defending champion Warriors will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in Oakland immediately following the 76ers/Knicks matchup. Here's the entire list that was released via nba.com:
National TV Games Opening Week
Date | Teams | Time (ET) | Network Tue., Oct. 17 | Celtics at Cavaliers | 8:00 p.m. | TNT Tue., Oct. 17 | Rockets at Warriors | 10:30 p.m. | TNT Wed., Oct. 18 | 76ers at Wizards | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN Wed., Oct. 18 | Timberwolves at Spurs | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN Thu., Oct. 19 | Knicks at Thunder | 8:00 p.m. | TNT Thu., Oct. 19 | Clippers at Lakers | 10:30 p.m. | TNT Fri., Oct. 20 | Cavaliers at Bucks | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN Fri., Oct. 20 | Warriors at Pelicans | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
Christmas Day Schedule
Teams | Time (ET) | Network 76ers at Knicks | Noon | ESPN Cavaliers at Warriors | 3:00 p.m. | ABC Wizards at Celtics | 5:30 p.m. | ABC Rockets at Thunder | 8:00 p.m. | ABC Timberwolves at Lakers | 10:30 p.m. | TNT
Keep an eye out for my yearly, "Top-10 games to Watch This Season" as soon as the remainder of the schedule is announced in the upcoming days.
Sean Mackey is a co-host of the 48 MINUTES Podcast and can be found not tweeting about the Chicago Bulls anymore @Sean_Mackey,
