NBA schedule release 2017: Important dates and matchups from the full unveiling

Gordon Hayward’s March 28 return to Utah is just the tip of the iceberg for this year’s NBA schedule.

Updated Aug 14, 2017, 10:43 PM UTC

Golden State Warriors v Utah Jazz - Game Three

Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images

Months have passed since the final regular season games of last year’s NBA season. Now, with the league announcing its schedule for the 2017-18 season, basketball fans have a taste of what to look forward to for the next go-round.

After an eventful summer that featured multiple All-Stars changing teams, some teams will welcome old friends back as opponents for the first time. Players like Paul George, Gordon Hayward and Chris Paul will return to their stomping grounds in unfamiliar jerseys.

But it’s not just about a homecoming party.

Holiday NBA schedules were unveiled, fans will enjoy a Finals rematch on Christmas, and a months-long obsession with the highest level of basketball continues on Oct. 17.

In addition, there are no more instances of 4 games in 5 nights. There were 20 such stretches last season. And the number of back-to-back games have decreased from an average of 16.3 to 14.4 per team.

Here are some key dates from this year’s NBA schedule:

NBA Christmas:

NOON: 76ers at Knicks
3 p.m.: Cavaliers at Warriors
5:30 p.m.: Wizards at Celtics
8 p.m.: Rockets at Thunder
10:30 p.m.: Timberwolves at Lakers

NBA opening week

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

Notable games

Nov. 15: The first Markelle Fultz vs. Lonzo Ball matchup
Nov. 22: Kevin Durant returns to Oklahoma City
Dec. 13: Paul George’s return to Indianapolis
Jan. 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day): Chris Paul’s return to Los Angeles, Cavs host Warriors
Feb. 9: Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson return to Chicago
March 28: Gordon Hayward’s return to Utah

Nationally televised games

Warriors: 31
Rockets: 28
Cavaliers: 27
Thunder: 27
Celtics: 25
Spurs: 23
Lakers: 23
Clippers: 19
Wizards: 18
Timberwolves: 17
76ers: 14
Trail Blazers: 11
Bucks: 10
Nuggets: 9
Knicks: 8
Pelicans: 8
Jazz: 7
Mavericks: 6
Raptors: 5
Heat: 5
Grizzlies: 4
Kings: 4
Pistons: 4
Suns: 3
Nets: 0
Hawks: 0
Magic: 0