NBA schedule: Breaking down all the top games of the 2017-18 season
A brief glance at the NBA schedule, with a breakdown of the must-see games as seen by USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick.
The champs and their victory lap
Ring night: The Golden State Warriors are back on top of the NBA mountain, having won the title in two of the past three seasons. They get their rings at Oracle Arena on opening night Oct. 17 before facing James Harden’s revamped Houston Rockets squad that added nine-time All-Star Chris Paul this summer.
Finals rematch: The Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers became the first two teams to face off in three consecutive Finals last June, and they’ll see each other for the first time since in a Christmas Day matchup. They'll play again on Jan. 15 in Cleveland.
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The reunion games
Paul George vs. Pacers: After making his discontent widely known for quite some time, the four-time All-Star was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer after seven seasons in Indiana. With new co-stars Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony at his side, George will face his old team on Oct. 25 in Oklahoma City before making his return to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Dec. 13.
Carmelo Anthony vs. Knicks: We won't have to wait long for 'Melo to see his old team. The Knicks visit Oklahoma City in their season opener on Oct. 19, and Anthony will return to his old stomping grounds on Dec. 16. He swears there are no hard feelings, and with Phil Jackson out, that might be the case.
Kyrie Irving vs. Cavs: The Cavs host Boston in their season opener on October 17, and who can predict what sort of reaction Irving might receive? On one had, he hit the biggest shot in franchise history. On the other, he bolted town because he was tired of playing alongside LeBron James. Will he be celebrated or scorned? Though he won't be playing due to a hip injury, it's also the first night Isaiah Thomas will be facing his old squad.
Chris Paul vs. Clippers: Paul shocked the NBA world in late June, informing the Clippers that he would opt out of his contract and sign with the Houston Rockets in free agency unless they found a way to trade him there first (which they promptly did). Paul will see his old teammates for the first time in Houston on Dec. 22, and then face the Clippers crowd in Los Angeles for the first time on Jan. 15 at Staples Center.
Gordon Hayward vs. Jazz: Hayward’s decision to sign with the Boston Celtics in free agency decimated a Utah Jazz team that was on the rise in the Western Conference, meaning he may not be so warmly received in his March 28 return to Salt Lake City. The All-Star forward will see his old team in Boston on Dec. 15.
Jimmy Butler vs. Bulls: The trade of Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves on June 22 was one of the many summer surprises, and he’ll see his old Chicago squad for the first time on Feb. 9 at the United Center, then again in Minnesota on Feb. 24. The three-time All-Star was reunited with his old Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, and joins forces with rising star center Karl-Anthony Towns in the blockbuster deal.
The youth movement games
The Los Angeles Lakers got the young man they wanted by taking point guard Lonzo Ball second overall out of UCLA in the June draft, and now they’ll get to play a whopping 35 times on national television. He faces the Philadelphia 76ers and No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz for the first time on Nov. 15 at the Staples Center, then again in Philadelphia on Dec. 7.
There has been no shortage of hype surrounding Ball’s matchups with the Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox as well, what with the former Kentucky point guard having knocked Ball’s Bruins out of the NCAA tournament in the Sweet Sixteen back in March. Ball missed their summer league showdown because of a minor injury, but will face Fox’s Kings in Sacramento on Nov. 22 (and three more times thereafter).
The litmus test games
Warriors challengers: This was a six-degrees-of-Golden State summer, with several teams taking calculated risks in an attempt to cut that competitive gap with the defending champs. After getting a first look at the Paul-Harden Rockets on opening night, the Warriors play at Oklahoma City on Nov. 22. Not only will it be the latest return for Kevin Durant after he left town two summers ago, but Golden State will get a glimpse of the Westbrook-George-Anthony pairing. The Warriors host the much-improved Timberwolves for the first time on Nov. 8 at Oracle Arena.
While Kawhi Leonard and his Spurs didn’t improve this offseason, they remain as capable as any of challenging the Warriors and will host them in a debut matchup on Nov. 2.
Cavs competition: Kyrie Irving’s trade request momentarily made the Cavs vulnerable, but they restocked the cupboard quickly with Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade and Jae Crowder. The Celtics (Oct. 17 in Cleveland on opening night), Washington Wizards (Nov. 3 in Washington) and Toronto Raptors (Jan. 11 in Toronto) are all looking to upend the East champs.
Follow Sam Amick on Twitter @sam_amick.