Opening night includes Wiz
By: Craig Stouffer
Examiner Staff Writer
August 5, 2009
NBA schedule released
The Washington Wizards will tip off in the second game of the 2009-10 NBA season, but it will be a secondary attraction on the league's opening night.
The Wizards begin their campaign at Dallas on Oct. 27, playing opposite the nationally-televised opening-night doubleheader of Boston at Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers "visiting" their roommates, the NBA-champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Wizards return to Washington on Oct. 31 to host New Jersey in their first home game of the season.
Things heat up quickly, as the Wizards head to Cleveland on Nov. 3, and the Cavaliers will bring LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal back to Washington on Nov. 18, one of seven Wizards games that will be on ESPN. Washington will appear once on TNT (Dec. 10 vs. Boston).
The Wizards will embark on two four-game road swings, one in December and one in March, and enjoy a season-high six-game homestand in mid-January that closes with visits by the Clippers (including number one overall draft pick Blake Griffin) and the Lakers.
Former head coach Eddie Jordan will visit Verizon Center with Philadelphia on Nov. 24, and local standouts Kevin Durant and Jeff Green will arrive with Oklahoma City on Dec. 29.
The Wizards play on only one major holiday, Easter (Sunday, Apr. 4).
