One Can't-Miss Game on Every NBA Team's 2012-13 Schedule

With last week's unveiling of the 2012-2013 NBA schedule, we hoop nerds got a chance to take a sneak peek at some of what should be the best, most exciting, entertaining matchups of the year.

The defending champion Heat have plenty of big games on the docket, starting with an Eastern Finals rematch against the Celtics on Opening Night. Their opponent in the Finals, the Thunder, hosts Miami on Valentine's Day. And the Lakers and Celtics renew acquaintances for the first time on the docket on Feb. 7.

Those are just a small sample of some big regular-season games at which we're looking. The playoffs are tentatively scheduled to commence on Saturday, April 20, 2013, but there's sure to be plenty of excitement and intrigue leading up to that date.

Here's a look at one marquee matchup for each team on the upcoming season's slate.

Atlanta Hawks: January 16 vs. Brooklyn

On a Wednesday night in the middle of January, Joe Johnson and his ridiculous contract will touch down in the Georgia state capital for the first time since new Atlanta GM Danny Ferry somehow managed to get the Brooklyn Nets to take on the remainder of it.

Johnson, paid like one of the two or three best players in the NBA despite not necessarily even being the best player on his own team, can't be blamed for signing the $120 million deal, which still has four years and $89 million remaining. 

But Ferry should be commended for getting the Hawks out from under it, as he now has Atlanta much more flexible financially as it looks into potentially wooing Dwight Howard next summer.

This Hawks/Nets matchup will be the first half of a home-and-home between the two teams that will continue two nights later at Brooklyn's brand new Barclays Center.

Boston Celtics: January 27 vs. Miami

The Celts will get a shot at the team that's knocked them out of the postseason the past two years, as well as former teammate Ray Allen, on Opening Night in South Beach.

But it's Allen's return to Boston that carries more weight.

Get ready for an emotional afternoon at the TD Garden, Celtics fans. There will undoubtedly be plenty of hugs, high-fives, video tributes, cheers and of course, boos, when Ray comes back to the place he helped build back into an NBA destination.

And beyond that, the game should also be a good way to take the temperature of where both teams are at around the midpoint of the regular season.

Mark your calendars. This one will be among the games of the year.

Brooklyn Nets: November 1 vs. New York

The Knicks are no longer the only game in town. 

On Thursday, November 1, the Nets will get their first chance to show their rivals from across the East River that's the case when they open their giant, sparkling, new arena, the Barclays Center.

Located right on Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush, just a stone's throw from where the Dodgers once plied their trade at old Ebbets Field, this new arena will allow Brooklyn, New York to house its first professional sports franchise since those Dodgers packed up and moved west to L.A. in 1957.

The Nets went nuts in free agency, signing or re-signing seven players and trading for Johnson. 

This night will be their first chance to show off all of their new stuff against their most bitter rivals.

Charlotte Bobcats: November 9 at New Orleans

The Bobcats won just seven games last season, posting the lowest winning percentage (.106) in NBA history.

They still didn't get the No. 1 pick in the draft, though. That honor went to the New Orleans Hornets. Charlotte picked second. 

Whether or not that was a fair turn of events, it's the way the draft lottery cookie crumbled. So the Bobcats, who have no real rivals or interesting histories with any other teams, will have to settle for their most-marquee game of the 2012-2013 season being a meeting with the Hornets.

A chance to exact a little revenge against the former wards of the NBA state in the Big Easy.

Chicago Bulls: February 28 vs. Philadelphia

When the Bulls lost Derrick Rose to a torn ACL at the end of Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round series against the Sixers, their fortunes for the entire 2012 season changed as they were summarily dismissed from the playoffs in six games.

One could argue that their fortunes for the 2012-2013 slate changed that afternoon as well, as Rose will reportedly not be able to return from the injury until February or March.

If you believe this report, a game to target for Bulls fans will happen on the final day of February when the Sixers come to Chicago.

It won't be the first meeting of the year between the two teams; that happens on December 1, also at the United Center. But based on the timetable under which Rose appears to be operating, the late February game could well be right around when he makes his return to the Bulls lineup.

Could be pretty poetic, don't you think?

Cleveland Cavaliers: March 20 vs. Miami

It will have been nearly three years since The Decision come March 20, but it's still an event worth noting whenever LeBron James comes back to Cleveland.

This year, he'll be making his first trip to his former hometown as an NBA champion, a title Cavs owner Dan Gilbert famously promised Cleveland fans he would never attain before the Cavs won a title without him.

Gilbert congratulated the Heat on their championship via Twitter shortly after they beat Oklahoma in June. But he didn't mention LeBron by name in the tweet.

Coincidence? Hardly. Big story? Not really. But it will be interesting to see how LeBron is received in Cleveland now that he's won a ring with Miami.

Dallas Mavericks: December 27 at Oklahoma City

The Mavs didn't put up much of a fight in defending their 2011 title last season, sneaking into the playoffs as a No. 7 seed then being dismissed from the proceedings in pretty routine fashion by the Thunder.

Still, a rivalry seems to be percolating between these two teams. Dallas dumped OKC out of the tournament in the Western Finals en route to their championship last summer. The Thunder responded with their ouster of Dallas in May.

Two days after Christmas, in a nationally-televised game from Oklahoma City, the two teams will renew acquaintances for the first time since the playoffs. 

You can bet the Mavs will be ready.

Denver Nuggets: November 30 at L.A. Lakers

Denver gave the Lakers all they could handle in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs in the spring, taking Kobe and company all the way to seven games and leading into the second half on the road.

Since then, Denver has brought back pretty much everyone important from that team, including veteran point guard Andre Miller, who shined as brightly as at any point in his career in that series, and JaVale McGee, acquired at last season's trade deadline, showed flashes of what he's truly capable of after getting out of the pit that is the Washington Wizards organization.

The two teams will meet for the first time in 2012-2013 right after Thanksgiving at the Staples Center.

Expect Denver to be fired up like it's another playoff game.

Detroit Pistons: December 7 vs. Chicago

The Pistons are clearly rebuilding. They've drafted in the lottery the past three years and have gone through three coaches in four seasons.

But now, their roster, their coaching situation and their franchise as a whole seem to be taking shape. They have a legit foundation in those three high draft picks, Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight and rookie Andre Drummond. And they have a very good, defensive-minded, veteran coach in Lawrence Frank.

Now that they seem to be on what looks like the right track, their next goal should be getting back to the top of their division. That means knocking off the Bulls.

The two long-time rivals meet four times in 2012-2013. The first of those meetings is set for December 7 at the Palace.

Unless they somehow get back into the playoff conversation ahead of schedule, it should be one of the biggest games of the Pistons' year.

Golden State Warriors: November 3 at L.A. Clippers

It will only be their third game of the season, but when the Warriors visit the Clippers on November 3, they should get a pretty good idea of where they stand out west.

It's safe to assume that Golden State will have center Andrew Bogut, the main piece of the deal struck with Milwaukee involving Monta Ellis last year. Stephen Curry, who missed major time with ankle problems last year, will be back and first round pick Harrison Barnes will be there, too.

The Clippers or Lakers are probably the closest to a division rival the Warriors have at this point. To see this downtrodden franchise make some headway would be good for the league and fun to watch.

Houston Rockets: March 1 at Orlando

It all may be a moot point by then, but seeing how the Rockets have cleared off everything but the Toyota Center in the hopes of trading for Dwight Howard, it would be fascinating to see these two teams play if Howard was indeed wearing a Rockets uniform.

It probably won't happen; Howard had his people inform the Houston folks that they shouldn't even THINK about trading for him—you know, because he's Dwight Howard and all. Still, at this point of the Howard saga, nothing would surprise.

If the Rockets don't get Howard, look for them to have somewhere around five or six wins come time for this game.

Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik, Chandler Parsons and three rookies aren't going to take you very far.

Indiana Pacers: December 4 at Chicago

Remember back in May when the Pacers led the Heat 2-1 in the Eastern semis? 

They looked really, really good up until that point, when LeBron James woke up and became the player he's always been expected to become.

Still, the Pacers are a threat in the East, especially after garnering the postseason experience they've seen over the last two seasons. 

Combine that talent and experience with Derrick Rose's injury and absence and you could make a case that the Pacers are the presumptive favorites in the Central Division.

Their first meeting with Chicago will still be a big one, though. Even without Rose, the Bulls are still the class of the division. The Pacers need to beat them.

They probably will.

Los Angeles Clippers: November 7 vs. San Antonio

It's tempting to choose the Clippers' first game against the Lakers, given the whole big brother, little brother thing going on out there. But it's more interesting to consider how the Clippers will come out in their first game against the team that absolutely destroyed them so decisively in the playoffs.

The Clippers have a very deep, very talented roster and will surely feel like they have something to prove when they meet the older, wiser Spurs a week into the season. San Antonio whipped them in the Western semis. It was a total beatdown.

The Clippers will need to come out strong and tough at home. If they don't and get embarrassed again, it might be a sign of things to come for a team that fancies itself a contender.

Los Angeles Lakers: December 7 at Oklahoma City

Another team dismissed from the playoffs by the Thunder, the Lakers may well see this game, despite its being so early, as somewhat of a measuring stick.

Oklahoma is the class of the West. The Lakers are very good, but want to be more than that. Their acquisition of Steve Nash should help immensely, especially since as of now it appears neither Pau Gasol nor Andrew Bynum are going anywhere.

There are several contestants for the role of potential Thunder usurper. The Lakers are among them. The window to win again with Kobe is closing fast.

Their games against each other this season will all be big.

Memphis Grizzlies: October 31 at L.A. Clippers

The Grizzlies and the Clippers staged a veritable bloodbath in the Western first round back in the spring. Getting a chance to see them lock up again sounds glorious.

Memphis hasn't done much since losing that series in seven games. They finally bid adieu to O.J. Mayo and re-signed a couple of their journeyman big men, Marreese Speights and Darrell Arthur and brought in Jerryd Bayless to be a backup point guard.

But a major core of their team from last year still remains. Their top four players—Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph—are back, as is top defender Tony Allen.

Both teams will certainly be fired up for this one, and the fact that it's happening on Opening Night gives it a little extra pull. 

This will be a big one for the Grizz.

Miami Heat: October 30 vs. Boston

A no-brainer here.

Not only will the Heat get their rings and raise their championship banner prior to this game, they'll do it with the team that's become their most bitter rival over the past couple years forced to stand 15 feet away and watch.

The last time the Heat won a title, the next season's team went out and lost to the Bulls by 42 after getting their rings on Opening Night. Celtics fans can only hope that happens again this year. 

Aside from that, this game will be as big and exciting as early-season games get. Make sure you check the TV ratings the next day. 

They're gonna be big.

Milwaukee Bucks: March 9 at Golden State

Chances are pretty good that this game won't be on national TV. 

But there's some nice intrigue here: Monta Ellis, a lifetime Warrior, got shipped off to America's Dairyland last February and will be making his first return to the Bay Area.

As far as the game is concerned, both of these teams are young and talented and certainly must have high hopes about making some noise this year. With the game being near the end of the season, if they are within smelling distance of the playoffs, it will be a much better contest.

The Bucks certainly look like a borderline playoff contender. This could be a big night for them.

Minnesota Timberwolves: November 23 at Portland

For some reason, these two teams don't like each other.

The Wolves signed the retired former Blazer Brandon Roy last month and also made a huge, potentially cap-killing offer to restricted free agent Nicolas Batum, which the Blazers matched.

There was some animosity involved with the proceedings, which could mean some extracurricular activity when the two teams meet up for the first time this year.

Whether Roy gets cheered or booed at the Rose Garden will bear watching, as will whether he can still play after chronic knee problems forced his early retirement.

Both of these teams are looking to improve, so an early-season matchup for a couple of division rivals will add interest as well.

New Orleans Hornets: October 31 vs. San Antonio

What better way for the free-of-the-NBA's-iron-fist Hornets to kick off their first season under new ownership and with a revamped roster, than against the stalwarts of their division, the Spurs?

Anthony Davis, Austin Rivers, Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, a fascinating quartet of players, will take the floor as teammates for the first time against arguably the West's standard of excellence. It should be a lot of fun.

New Orleans probably needs at least a year before its young core will really gel together. It's hard to think of a better first test for the Hornets, though. 

The Big Easy should be rockin'.

New York Knicks: December 17 vs. Houston

Batten down the hatches at Madison Square Garden on the 17th of December.

Linsanity is coming back to town.

The Rockets will be in New York to take on the Knicks on this particular night, and while Lin is sure to get a massive ovation from the Knicks' faithful, what will be even more interesting is what kind of reception those fans will give their home team.

The Knicks could have kept the sensation that was Jeremy Lin, but instead chose to roll with Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd being the main facilitators for Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.

Debate whether this was the right move all you want (note: It wasn't). If the Knicks lose this game and the loss is folded into a lousy start to the season, expect the boos to rain down.

Here's a game that could well feature a couple of teams treading water way under .500 but still get the national TV treatment.

Count on it.

Oklahoma City Thunder: December 25 at Miami

A Finals rematch on Christmas Day?

You're kidding!

This is one of the more obvious answers of the presentation. The Thunder, who were wiped out in four straight after taking Game 1 against the Heat in June, will be returning to South Beach for ABC's showcase event on Christmas and the ratings promise to be through the roof.

These two teams are going to be the presumptive favorites in each of their respective conferences potentially for years to come. Seeing their first meeting of the year, especially under these circumstances, will be appointment viewing.

Eat Christmas dinner early. The game starts at 5:30 EST.

Orlando Magic: November 9 vs Brooklyn, November 11 at Brooklyn

Two games for the Magic—a home-and-home with the Nets—because for all we know at this point, Dwight Howard might try to defect to Brooklyn or something.

If Howard is still wearing a Magic uniform at this point, much will be made about his facial expressions, his body language, how he interacts with his teammates and coach and so on, in particular during the game in Brooklyn. 

The potential storylines, as tired and played-out as they are, will be numerous.

And while we may just yawn, these games will still generate a huge amount of interest.

Philadelphia 76ers: November 9 at Boston

After catching the huge break that was Rose's injury, the Sixers moved on to the Eastern semis and gave the Celtics all they could handle and more, taking the series to seven games before going down in the fourth quarter.

It was an amazing, gutsy performance for Philly, which has made a couple of curious moves since then (letting Lou Williams go in favor of Nick Young, signing Kwame Brown) but has plenty of reason to think it can build on its accomplishments from that series as a No. 8 seed.

They get their first look at the Celtics early, in their fifth game of the year. This matchup will be a prelude to a back-to-back, home-and-home set against the C's just a month later. Expect Philly to play extremely tough, to try to show the Celts last spring was no fluke.

These two teams becoming real rivals again, for the first time since the early-to-mid 80s, would be great for the teams, the league and the fans.

Phoenix Suns: March 18 vs. L.A. Lakers

The Suns will get two looks at their former two-time MVP Steve Nash before he makes his return to Phoenix. 

That happens on March 18, when the Lakers will hit the desert and Nash is likely to be treated like a conquering hero, despite wearing a rival's uniform and the division potentially being up for grabs.

And why not? Nash never got the Suns to the Finals, but that wasn't his fault. Ownership had deprived him of a truly competitive team over the past couple years, one of the biggest reasons for the sign-and-trade that sent him to L.A.

He's one of the greatest players in Phoenix history. His number will hang from the U.S. Airways Arena rafters any minute. 

His return to Phoenix will be a big event.

Portland Trail Blazers: December 20 vs. Denver

The Blazers severely underachieved last year, costing coach Nate McMillan his job and resulting in some serious roster-shuffling.

It remains to be seen if they can pick things up this season, especially because the still don't even have a coach. But if they are to get back to the playoffs, they'll have to beat teams like Denver, obstacles in the Northwest Division.

The Blazers will be a bit thin in the backcourt this season since jettisoning Felton and Jamal Crawford. But big things will be expected out of first round pick Damian Lillard, and La Marcus Aldridge is a more than legit All-Star.

When this game rolls around the season will be at about its one-third mark, so things will have started to shake out in the Northwest. The Blazers will not only have to jump the Nuggets but the Jazz, too, for second place behind Oklahoma City.

This would be a good place to get started.

Sacramento Kings: November 2 at Minnesota

There's a good reason for this.

Remember the early 2000s, about 9-12 years ago, when these two teams were among the best and most entertaining in the league?

Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic et al on one side, Kevin Garnett, Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell and Wally Szczerbiak on the other.

Those Kings and Wolves always played games worth watching. Some of them in the playoffs.

This particular game could well be very entertaining: Each team has players worth seeing. The entertainment-level possibility is pretty high.

And, Kevin Love vs. DeMarcus Cousins? Sounds tremendous.

San Antonio Spurs: November 1 vs. Oklahoma City

The Spurs going from 10 straight playoff wins to being systematically shredded four straight times by Kevin Durant and the Thunder came out of thin air.

It was a shocking turn of events in which the Spurs suddenly seemed too old and too slow, in what felt like five minutes after having the best record in the league during the regular season.

Anyway, the Spurs getting such an early look at Oklahoma City is a chance for them to make a statement. It's debatable whether Gregg Popovich or Tim Duncan see it as such (note: probably not) but all the same, San Antonio can put its foot down early.

Most of the same players will be on the court as in last year's Western Finals and the intensity level should be up there. This has all the makings of a great game.

Toronto Raptors: November 17 at Boston

The Raptors are likely not a playoff team, even with Kyle Lowry. Not this season.

So how about another measuring-stick game?

The Celtics are the standard in the Atlantic Division, having taken it five years running. If the Raptors can come into TD Garden, where they lost two games by a combined 59 points last year, and give the C's a game, that could do wonders for their confidence, especially when they play good teams.

Toronto will get itself a handful of upset wins this season. The Celtics went up there at a key point late last year and got smoked.

This early matchup with the C's is a good chance for one.

Utah Jazz: November 10 vs. Phoenix

The Jazz grabbed the West's final playoff berth last year and look to be improved this season, with their stacked frontcourt leading the way.

All the teams the Jazz sneaked past for that last spot, save for Houston, look better as well. So if the Jazz are going to take the next step, they will need to hold off teams like Phoenix, Portland and a couple of sleeper teams.

When Phoenix comes to Salt Lake City a couple of weeks into the season, Utah will have its first chance at winning one of those key games. The Suns are much stronger up front than they were last year, so expect a battle of big men.

Washington Wizards: November 13 at Charlotte

These two teams needed more work than any others in the Eastern Conference last season. 

Both have taken steps toward getting better now, with the Wizards aggressively trying to reshape their roster around former No. 1 overall pick John Wall.

It's unlikely that either of these teams will be much better in 2012-2013. But we're sure to learn something about how much they've improved over the course of the summer.

If you want, you can certainly look at this game as a Southeast Division clash, which it technically is. If you want.