Breaking down Warriors’ slate for 201920
Warriors fans won’t wait long to see Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the reshaped Los Angeles Clippers — but they’ll wait quite a while to see LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the newlook Los Angeles Lakers in the regular season.
Those are among the highlights of the NBA schedule released Monday. The Warriors, with their own remade roster in the wake of a tumultuous offseason, will have 30 national television appearances in the 201920 season, their first at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Golden State also will play backtoback games only 11 times, its fewest since the NBA adopted an 82game schedule in 196768.
Other notable elements of the Warriors’ schedule: Circle these three dates
Oct. 24 vs. Clippers: The Warriors open their season at Chase against Leonard and George. This will mark the first regularseason game in San Francisco since Jan. 29, 1971, when the Warriors beat the Buffalo Braves 106100 at the Civic Auditorium.
Dec. 25 vs. Rockets: James Harden and new teammate Russell Westbrook visit for a 2 p.m. game on Christmas. The Warriors eliminated Harden and the Rockets in last season’s Western Conference semifinals.
Feb. 8 vs. Lakers: More than three months into the season, James and Davis make their inaugural regularseason appearance at Chase (they will play there twice in the preseason). They’ll suit up alongside former Warriors DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook. Eastern powers: The Warriors will host Eastern Conference contenders Boston (with Kemba Walker) on Nov. 15, Milwaukee (with Giannis Antetokounmpo) on Jan. 8, Indiana (with Victor Oladipo, if healthy) on Jan. 24 and Philadelphia (with Joel Embiid) on March 7.
Golden State also will host Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors on March 5, in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals. Williamson comes calling: Zion Williamson, the No. 1 overall draft pick from Duke, will make his maiden visit to Chase on Dec. 20, when the Warriors play the New Orleans Pelicans. KD comes back? Kevin Durant’s return from his torn Achilles tendon remains uncertain. But his new team, the Brooklyn Nets, makes its only visit of the season to San Francisco on March 12, nine months after he suffered the injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Achilles recovery ranges from six to 12 months, with most athletes returning after at least nine months. Most difficult stretch: In a 16day sequence in March, the Warriors play the Raptors, 76ers, Clippers and Nets at home; then they embark on an Eastern trip that begins with games against the Bucks, Raptors, Pacers and Pistons. All eight of those teams made the playoffs last season.
One slice of solace: That trip ends with a game against the sadsack Knicks on March 21. Toughest travel: The Warriors play nine of 11 games on the road starting Nov. 17 — four on the road (New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas, Utah), two at home (against the Thunder and Bulls) and then five more on the road (Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte and Chicago).
In all, that’s 11 games in 20 days in all four time zones. The good news for head coach Steve Kerr and his crew: Only three of the 11 opponents ( Jazz, Thunder and Magic) made the playoffs last season. Early starts: All Saturday and Sunday home games will begin at 5:30 p.m., starting with a Nov. 2 matchup against Charlotte.