The 2024-25 NBA season is set to tip off on Tuesday, October 22, with a highly anticipated schedule release that has basketball fans buzzing. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ social media team deserves a shoutout for their creative schedule reveal video, which set the tone for an exciting season ahead. As we gear up for the season, it’s important to highlight key dates for both Yahoo fantasy basketball and the NBA.
### Key Dates for Yahoo Fantasy Basketball:
– Mock Drafts Start: Thursday, August 22
– Live Drafts Start: Thursday, August 22
– Live Drafts End: Sunday, March 9
– Game Start Date: Tuesday, October 22
– Game End Date: Sunday, April 13
– Default Trade Deadline: Thursday, March 6
– Default Playoffs Start: Monday, March 17
– Default Playoffs End: Sunday, April 6
### Key Dates for the NBA:
– League Start: Tuesday, October 22
– Emirates NBA Cup: November 12 – December 17
– NBA All-Star Weekend: February 14-16 (San Francisco, CA)
– League End: April 13
– Play-In Tournament: April 15-18
– Playoffs Start: April 19
– NBA Finals Start: June 5
### NBA Schedule Takeaways:
– Consider starting fantasy playoffs as early as Week 18 (March 3) to avoid issues with tanking teams and resting players.
– Despite concerns about load management, the league has reduced the number of back-to-back games per team to 14.9.
– Teams with the most back-to-back games include the Hawks, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Rockets, Clippers, Bucks, Pelicans, Thunder, Suns, Kings, and Wizards.
– Teams with the fewest back-to-backs include the Celtics, Bulls, Mavericks, Lakers, Magic, and Trail Blazers.
– Keep an eye on strength of schedule rankings, with the Nuggets, Pacers, Magic, Celtics, and Knicks having the easiest schedules, while the Trail Blazers, Clippers, Rockets, Suns, and Nets face the toughest opponents.
### Opening Night: Tuesday, October 22
The reigning champs will face the New York Knicks in a challenging matchup, while the Boston Celtics will look to adjust without Kristaps Porzingis. Exciting games also include the Timberwolves taking on Anthony Edwards and the Lakers in action.
### Five Highly Anticipated Games Early in the Season:
– October 30: Spurs vs. Thunder
– November 6: Warriors vs. Celtics
– November 12: Knicks vs. Sixers
– November 29: Grizzlies vs. Pelicans
– December 3: Rockets vs. Kings
### Emirates NBA Cup:
The in-season tournament runs from November 12 to December 17, impacting fantasy basketball schedules and scoring periods.
### Christmas Day Lineup:
The NBA Christmas Day lineup features exciting matchups like Spurs vs. Knicks, Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, 76ers vs. Celtics, Lakers vs. Warriors, and Nuggets vs. Suns.
### Top 10 Nationally Televised Games by Team:
– Lakers: 29
– Celtics: 26
– Warriors: 24
– Knicks: 24
– Mavericks: 23
– Nuggets: 22
– 76ers: 21
– Suns: 19
– Bucks: 18
– Timberwolves: 18
Stay tuned for an action-packed NBA season filled with thrilling games, rivalries, and must-watch matchups.