The NBA schedules have been released, so when are the Indiana Pacers’ marquee matchups?
The NBA schedules dropped today, and as expected, there are 82 games on the docket for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, including the Indiana Pacers.
Jokes aside, what should you be looking for on the schedule for the Pacers?
Indiana has 17 nationally televised games, including four games on TNT, seven on ESPN, and six on NBATV.
The Pacers have 17 back-to-backs this season, the same as the last two seasons and thankfully not the 20 they had during the 2013-14 campaign.
Here are some of the highlights…
Opening Night
The season opens on October 26th with the Dallas Mavericks at Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. As well as being the first night of basketball, the matchup features Monta Ellis’ former team and the new home of Stanko Barac’s draft rights.
Grabbing the Bulls By the Horns
Indiana hit the road to face the Chicago Bulls on October 29th in the first of four games between the Central Division rivals.
They host the Bulls on November 5th before closing out the season series in December with a game on the road on December 26th followed by a 4 p.m. tip-off on the 30th.
The Bulls had the upper-hand last season with a 3-1 record against the Pacers.
The Return of Frank Vogel
On November 14th at home, now Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel has his first meeting with the Pacers since being let go this summer.
Hopefully, the crowd in Indiana gives him a deserved warm welcome before mercilessly booing him and the Magic the rest of the night.
Paul George Vs LeBron
The first meeting Paul George and the Pacers have with LeBron James and the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers is November 16th at home. The Cavaliers visit again on February 8th before closing out the season series in Cleveland with games on February 16th and April 2nd.
The Pacers were 1-3 against Cleveland last year but played each game very closely, with the exception of their lopsided win over the Cavs.
Golden State of Mind
Indiana plays host to the Golden State Warriors on November 21st, but hopefully, it goes better than their first meeting last season.
They’ll face them on the road in December, but more on that in a moment.
Stinging Feeling
The Charlotte Hornets swept the Pacers last season in their four matchups, but this season they’ll have to do it without Al Jefferson.
Charlotte will host Indiana on November 7th, followed by their visit to Indiana on December 12th. The two teams finish off the season series with meetings on March 6th back in Charlotte and then the 15th at Bankers Life.
Jeff Teague’s Old Friends
Jeff Teague will face his old team on November 23rd in Indiana when the Atlanta Hawks come to town. The other two matchups will be on March 5th in Atlanta and on April 12th back home at Bankers Life.
Western Conference Road Trips
The Pacers close out November (and begin December) with a Western Conference road trip that includes the Portland Trail Blazers, then the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State on back-to-back nights, before closing out with the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks.
Indiana also has three games in four nights later in the season when they face the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, and Utah Jazz on January 18th, 20th, and 21st, respectively.
More on the Pacers facing George Hill and the Jazz later.
Feeling the Heat
Indiana will face the Miami Heat (Do we still care with both Dwyane Wade and LeBron gone?) three times this season. Two of the games are on the road on December 15th and February 25th, and then the lone home game is on March 12th.
Turner Vs Porzingis
We’ll get to see Myles Turner vs Kristaps Porzingis four times this season, first on December 20th at Madison Square Garden, then on January 7th and 23rd at home before an away game on March 14th that sandwiches the two games in Indiana.
Porzingis got the best of Myles in their meetings last season, but this could be a much improved Turner when they meet again.
Across the Pond
The Pacers face the Denver Nuggets on January 12th in London, Indiana’s first time participating in the Global Games series.
Afternoon Basketball
They’ll follow that up with the New Orleans Pelicans on January 16 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — with a 4 p.m. tip-off.
They’ll also have another 4 p.m. game on December 30th when they host the Bulls, as mentioned earlier.
The Hometown Hero Returns
The Pacers will face George Hill for the first time when they head to Utah on January 21st, but his homecoming will have to wait until March 20th when he returns to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in an away uniform.
Utah won both meetings last season.
Playoff Rematch
If you’re wondering when Indiana will face their first round opponent from last season’s playoffs, you’ll have to wait until March when Indiana heads north to face the Toronto Raptors on the 19th and 31st before the final matchup at home on April 4th.
Those are the major highlights, but we’ll have to wait to see what story lines arise during the season and what rivalries will emerge.
Next: PG Says Team With Delly and Bogut Plays ‘A Little Dirty’
We’re still waiting over two months for the first game, but we’re one day closer to tip-off, and one day closer to NBA basketball.
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And yes, the Hawks Twitter account is the best in the NBA, so we stole that idea.