NBA releases 2019-20 schedule, doubleheaders to tip off earlier
The NBA unveiled its full schedule for the upcoming 2019-20 season on Monday.
In the league's opening-night doubleheader on Oct. 22, the defending champion Toronto Raptors will host the New Orleans Pelicans at 8 p.m. ET, while the Los Angeles Lakers will face their fellow Staples Center residents, the Los Angeles Clippers, at 10:30 p.m. ET.
The league is also reducing the number of 8 p.m./10:30 p.m. ET doubleheaders on both TNT and ESPN for 2019-20, lowering the amount to just 33 compared to 57 last season. Furthermore, back-to-backs are at an all-time low for a fifth-straight campaign.
April 15, 2020, will mark the final day of the regular season, which will feature 13 games.
While a number of notable player returns were leaked earlier this month, more awaited reunions were confirmed with Monday's release.
| DATE | HOME | AWAY | MARQUEE RETURN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 7 | Hornets | Celtics | Kemba Walker |
| Nov. 23 | 76ers | Heat | Jimmy Butler |
| Dec. 12 | Celtics | 76ers | Al Horford |
| Feb. 5 | Nets | Warriors | D'Angelo Russell |
On Oct. 23, the second day of the season, Marcus Morris will make his first visit to San Antonio since reportedly spurning a verbal agreement with the Spurs this summer in order to sign with the New York Knicks.