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The yearly tradition of NBA teams dropping their season schedules is a little, well, disjointed this season. In order to retain maximum flexibility, the league is dropping just one half of their proposed 72-game schedule for this upcoming year, and here’s when you can expect to watch your Milwaukee Bucks play this December and into the winter of 2021. The full first half schedule is here.
It's here.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 4, 2020
Plan accordingly.
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We know every opponent up until March 4th, when the scheduled All-Star Break is planned to divide the two halves of the season. Among the notable marquee matchups that net nationally televised attention include:
- Dec. 23 at Boston Celtics (First game of the season)
- Dec. 25 vs. Golden State Warriors
- Dec. 29 & 30 at Miami Heat
- Jan. 18 at Brooklyn Nets
- Jan. 21 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
- Feb. 28 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Overall, it includes 17 out of their 30 total scheduled games against Western Conference opponents and 37 total games. In terms of matchups I’m most intrigued by, the Lakers ones obviously stand out, but those back-to-back games, both of which will be played in Miami, should make for some entertaining fireworks before New Year’s Eve following Milwaukee’s flameout in the bubble.
I also count six back-to-backs among this first grouping of games. So, that’s six different opportunities for you to watch the development of Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Adams’ two-man game.
As per usual, all the caveats apply for this schedule during COVID-19 times. It’s entirely possible a team could get wiped out from infections, and restrictions require them to forfeit a number of games. Besides the back-to-backs in the same market against the same team as new wrinkles, the Bucks also get their own version of a “San Antonio Rodeo road trip,” playing six straight on the road in February. However, they also get eight straight at home at one point in February to March. Otherwise, they’re still flying from Denver, to Phoenix, to Utah and then down to Oklahoma City for a Western Conference road trip.
So, there it is, the first part of the Milwaukee Bucks schedule. Any particular stretches stand out to folks as difficult or cakewalks? Let us know in the comments below.