Wizards to play latest home opener in 2010-11
John Wall was the top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, but he’ll be the last to be unveiled in front of his own fans.
The Washington Wizards play the latest home opener of the 2010-11 season, Nov. 2 vs. the Philadelphia 76ers. The Tuesday night tilt also pits Wall against the No. 2 overall pick in 2010, Evan Turner, and will mark the Washington return of former head coach Doug Collins.
December will be the most exciting month for the young and rebuilding Wizards, who visit the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers during a three-game road swing on Dec. 7. The Lakers then come to Washington on Dec. 14, four nights before the Wizards host LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
Washington’s two longest road trips take place after the calendar turns: a four-game trip that begins in Oklahoma City on Jan. 28, and a five-game haul — the final leg of seven out of eight away from Verizon Center — that starts in Portland on March 22.
Prior to that road swing, the Wizards will play seven out of eight games at home beginning Feb. 26, a stretch that concludes with Kevin Durant’s lone return to his hometown with the Thunder on Mar. 14.
The Wizards are scheduled for eight national television appearances: one on ESPN (Jan. 21 vs. Phoenix), two on TNT (Oct. 28 at Orlando, Nov. 25 at Atlanta), and five on NBATV.
Former Wizard Antawn Jamison makes his first appearance at Verizon Center with Cleveland on Nov. 6, and former Wizards Brendan Haywood, Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson will return to D.C. with Dallas on Feb. 26.
