NBA 2016-17 Schedule Highlights.
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Today the NBA released its 2016-17 regular season schedule. During the past off-season there were many shake ups, with multiple familiar faces joining new squads. Those off season changes were highlighted by Kevin Durant departing the Oklahoma City Thunder, to join Steph Curry and company in Golden State. Along with Dwayne Wade opting to end his career long tenure in Miami, to join the team he grew up loving his hometown Chicago Bulls.
The season will tip off on October 25th with a TNT doubleheader, featuring the reigning NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the new look New York Knicks who acquired 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose & Joakim Noah. The next game will feature Kevin Durant making his Golden State Warriors debut against the San Antonio Spurs, who will be without their franchise player Tim Duncan for the first time in 20 seasons.
The Christmas Day schedule will feature 5 games. LeBron James & Kyrie Irving will host the new look Golden State Warriors in an anticipated NBA Finals rematch. The New York Knicks will host the Boston Celtics. Dwayne Wade & the new look Chicago Bulls will take on the San Antonio Spurs, the Minnesota Timberwolves will travel to Oklahoma City to take on the Russell Westbrook lead Oklahoma City Thunder. To end the day the Los Angeles Clippers will take on their next door neighbors the Los Angeles Lakers. This will be the first Christmas day in a long time that will not feature the Miami Heat.
The seasons likely most anticipated games will be first on November 3rd when Russell Westbrook and the Thunder travel up to Oakland to take on Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors. As well as February 11th when Kevin Durant will return to Oklahoma City, and play at Chesapeake arena for the first time, while not being a member of the Thunder. This should indeed be a treat.