Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will open their Brooklyn Nets era together by facing off against their respective former teams.
The new look Nets will generate immediate storylines with opening matchups against the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics.
The NBA released the first half schedule for the upcoming 72-game season on Friday, as they will wait to assess the effects of the ongoing pandemic before solidifying the remainder of the slate. The Nets have 37 games on the docket so far, with 19 appearances on national television.
Here’s what you need to know about the first half of the Nets’ 2020-21 schedule:
Key GamesWarriors at Nets (Dec. 22, TNT)
The Nets open the season with a national audience as Durant and Irving will take the court for the first time together in Brooklyn against Stephen Curry and Co. Steve Nash will make his coaching debut against his former general manager in Phoenix, Steve Kerr, who also hired Nash as a player development coach in Golden State.
Nets at Celtics (Dec. 25, ABC)
Merry Christmas to Irving, who makes his return to Boston for the second game of the season. Celtics fans were deprived of seeing Irving this past season as he missed both trips to Boston with a shoulder injury, but tried their best to give the rest of his teammates some irritation as they regularly chanted ‘Where is Kyrie’ throughout the two games. Now he’ll return with likely no fans in the arena.
Bucks at Nets (Jan. 18, TNT)
An Eastern Conference finals preview perhaps? The Nets will host the Bucks and new acquisition Jrue Holiday on MLK Day in what will serve as a good barometer for how the Nets stack up against a fellow title contender. Durant will face off against Giannis Antetokounmpo in a game that features two of the league’s biggest stars.
Wizards at Nets (Jan. 3)
Durant and old teammate Russell Westbrook face off for the first time in the Eastern Conference. How does Washington look as a team and what is the situation with known Nets target Bradley Beal when he comes to Barclays?
Nets at Knicks (Jan. 13, ESPN)
The Nets meet the Knicks for the first time this season on the second half of a back-to-back that will have no shortage of storylines. The Nets staff has former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni and former star Amar’e Stoudemire. The Nets also have assistant coach Royal Ivey, who spent the past two seasons with the Knicks, partly as a recruiting ploy to Durant, who obviously signed with the Nets. Nash is also the godfather to Knicks star R.J. Barrett. Spencer Dinwiddie will have plenty of material to troll with.
Nets at Warriors (Feb. 13, ABC)
The Nets open up a huge West Coast road trip as Durant makes his return to the Chase Center for the first time.
Nets at Lakers (Feb. 18, TNT)
Durant vs. LeBron James and the defending champions? What more needs to be said?
Nets at Rockets (March 3, ESPN)
What team is James Harden on by this point?
Back-to-backs
The Nets have five back-to-backs through their first 37 games and drew about as good of a hand as you can ask for, given the circumstances.At Hornets/vs. Grizzlies on Dec. 27-28: A short distance travel wise, and two winnable games isn’t bad for your first two-game swing. Durant and Irving could even get some early rest because of this setup.
Vs. Sixers/at Grizzlies on Jan. 7-8Vs. Nuggets/at Knicks on Jan. 12-13: A back-to-back that asks the Nets to simply bus over the East River after facing Denver on Jan. 12. And the Nets probably won’t need either Durant or Irving against a likely lottery-bound Knicks team.
Vs. Raptors/at Sixers on Feb. 5-6: A slate worth watching as the Nets will face two playoff teams in a back-to-back and make another short trip. How does Brooklyn handle Durant and Irving for these two games? Do they both play? Rest one star one night and play the other and then switch?
At Pistons/vs. Pacers on Feb. 9-10
Toughest stretch
The Nets’ West Coast road trip will go from Feb. 13 to 21 and take them from Golden State to Sacramento, Phoenix and two stops in Los Angeles against the Lakers and Clippers. That’s four likely playoff teams the Nets will face in an eight-day stretch. How much of a title contender Brooklyn is may be known by the end of this trip. Nash will also make his return to Phoenix during this trip.
Mini-series (to reduce travel)
Home against Atlanta on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1: The Nets avoid going to Georgia in the first half of the season. Atlanta should be an improved team this season with the additions of Rajon Rondo, Danilo Gallinari and Bogan Bogdanovic, but these games should be winnable for the Nets.
Home against Miami on Jan. 23 and 25: Another mini-series that keeps the Nets out of Florida and another potential Eastern Conference Finals preview.
Away at Cleveland on Jan. 20 and 22: Will Irving play against the Cavs? He’s typically avoided playing his old teams and the Nets’ extended stay in Ohio gives them two very winnable games against a rebuilding franchise that would provide a good opportunity to rest both of Brooklyn’s star players.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will open their Brooklyn Nets era together by facing off against their respective former teams.
The new look Nets will generate immediate storylines with opening matchups against the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics.
The NBA released the first half schedule for the upcoming 72-game season on Friday, as they will wait to assess the effects of the ongoing pandemic before solidifying the remainder of the slate. The Nets have 37 games on the docket so far, with 19 appearances on national television.
Here’s what you need to know about the first half of the Nets’ 2020-21 schedule:
Key GamesWarriors at Nets (Dec. 22, TNT)
The Nets open the season with a national audience as Durant and Irving will take the court for the first time together in Brooklyn against Stephen Curry and Co. Steve Nash will make his coaching debut against his former general manager in Phoenix, Steve Kerr, who also hired Nash as a player development coach in Golden State.
Nets at Celtics (Dec. 25, ABC)
Merry Christmas to Irving, who makes his return to Boston for the second game of the season. Celtics fans were deprived of seeing Irving this past season as he missed both trips to Boston with a shoulder injury, but tried their best to give the rest of his teammates some irritation as they regularly chanted ‘Where is Kyrie’ throughout the two games. Now he’ll return with likely no fans in the arena.
Bucks at Nets (Jan. 18, TNT)
An Eastern Conference finals preview perhaps? The Nets will host the Bucks and new acquisition Jrue Holiday on MLK Day in what will serve as a good barometer for how the Nets stack up against a fellow title contender. Durant will face off against Giannis Antetokounmpo in a game that features two of the league’s biggest stars.
Wizards at Nets (Jan. 3)
Durant and old teammate Russell Westbrook face off for the first time in the Eastern Conference. How does Washington look as a team and what is the situation with known Nets target Bradley Beal when he comes to Barclays?
Nets at Knicks (Jan. 13, ESPN)
The Nets meet the Knicks for the first time this season on the second half of a back-to-back that will have no shortage of storylines. The Nets staff has former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni and former star Amar’e Stoudemire. The Nets also have assistant coach Royal Ivey, who spent the past two seasons with the Knicks, partly as a recruiting ploy to Durant, who obviously signed with the Nets. Nash is also the godfather to Knicks star R.J. Barrett. Spencer Dinwiddie will have plenty of material to troll with.
Nets at Warriors (Feb. 13, ABC)
The Nets open up a huge West Coast road trip as Durant makes his return to the Chase Center for the first time.
Nets at Lakers (Feb. 18, TNT)
Durant vs. LeBron James and the defending champions? What more needs to be said?
Nets at Rockets (March 3, ESPN)
What team is James Harden on by this point?
Back-to-backs
The Nets have five back-to-backs through their first 37 games and drew about as good of a hand as you can ask for, given the circumstances.At Hornets/vs. Grizzlies on Dec. 27-28: A short distance travel wise, and two winnable games isn’t bad for your first two-game swing. Durant and Irving could even get some early rest because of this setup.
Vs. Sixers/at Grizzlies on Jan. 7-8Vs. Nuggets/at Knicks on Jan. 12-13: A back-to-back that asks the Nets to simply bus over the East River after facing Denver on Jan. 12. And the Nets probably won’t need either Durant or Irving against a likely lottery-bound Knicks team.
Vs. Raptors/at Sixers on Feb. 5-6: A slate worth watching as the Nets will face two playoff teams in a back-to-back and make another short trip. How does Brooklyn handle Durant and Irving for these two games? Do they both play? Rest one star one night and play the other and then switch?
At Pistons/vs. Pacers on Feb. 9-10
Toughest stretch
The Nets’ West Coast road trip will go from Feb. 13 to 21 and take them from Golden State to Sacramento, Phoenix and two stops in Los Angeles against the Lakers and Clippers. That’s four likely playoff teams the Nets will face in an eight-day stretch. How much of a title contender Brooklyn is may be known by the end of this trip. Nash will also make his return to Phoenix during this trip.
Mini-series (to reduce travel)
Home against Atlanta on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1: The Nets avoid going to Georgia in the first half of the season. Atlanta should be an improved team this season with the additions of Rajon Rondo, Danilo Gallinari and Bogan Bogdanovic, but these games should be winnable for the Nets.
Home against Miami on Jan. 23 and 25: Another mini-series that keeps the Nets out of Florida and another potential Eastern Conference Finals preview.
Away at Cleveland on Jan. 20 and 22: Will Irving play against the Cavs? He’s typically avoided playing his old teams and the Nets’ extended stay in Ohio gives them two very winnable games against a rebuilding franchise that would provide a good opportunity to rest both of Brooklyn’s star players.
