Every important date and matchup we know in the NBA’s 2017-18 schedule

The NBA’s schedule starts earlier and is more spaced out than ever before. That’s a good thing! The league is expected to put rules into place limiting teams from resting star players, but it’s also trying to avoid putting players in bad situations involving too many games over too short of a timeframe. That’s why this NBA season will start a week earlier than usual, cutting down the preseason and cutting out even more back-to-backs.

The full NBA schedule will be released next week. On Thursday, ahead of the full release, the NBA promoted the NBA Tip-Off Schedule (its opening week of national television games) and its annual Christmas Day slate.

We’ll keep this post updated with all the information you need to know about your team and their schedule, as well as national television games, important dates to keep track of, and anything else related to the upcoming schedule.

All times Eastern

Celtics at Cavaliers | Oct. 17, 8 p.m., TNT
Rockets at Warriors | Oct. 17, 10:30 p.m., TNT
76ers at Wizards | Oct. 18, 7 p.m., ESPN
Timberwolves at Spurs | Oct. 18, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Knicks at Thunder | Oct. 19, 8 p.m., TNT
Clippers at Lakers | Oct. 19, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Cavaliers at Bucks | Oct. 20, 7 p.m., ESPN
Warriors at Pelicans | Oct. 20, 9:30 p.m., ESPN

All times Eastern. Christmas is Dec. 25.

76ers at Knicks | 12 p.m., ESPN
Cavaliers at Warriors | 3 p.m., ABC
Wizards at Celtics | 5 p.m., ABC
Rockets at Thunder | 8 p.m., ABC
Timberwolves at Lakers | 10:30 p.m., TNT

The Rockets will visit the Clippers on Jan. 15 at Staples Center. It’ll be Paul’s first time back to Los Angeles, his home for the past six years, after he was traded to Houston this summer.

We’ll post all 30 team schedules here when available.

Los Angeles Clippers home schedule (leaked)