NBA Schedule 2011-12: 5 Epic Games We Can't Wait to See in the New Year
The 2011-12 NBA schedule was announced on Tuesday night for the upcoming 66-game season.
The year will commence on Christmas, with teams such as the Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics treating basketball fans to a holiday full of awesome NBA action.
The first few weeks of the season has some awesome matchups. Let's look at five epic games were are excited to see in the new year.
Thunder at Mavericks, January 2 on NBATV
1 of 5The Oklahoma City Thunder return to the place their 2010-11 season ended on January 2 when they travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks.
The Mavericks beat the Thunder in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals last year to advance to the NBA Finals.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will look to prove they have learned from their playoff failures last season and are ready to take the next step as a team and get to the Finals.
This will be a good early test for the Thunder.
Bulls at Magic, January 6 on ESPN
2 of 5The Chicago Bulls will travel on the road to play the Orlando Magic on January 6, and the question on everyone's mind is whether Dwight Howard still be with the Magic at that point.
These teams are currently two of the East's best, and watching Bulls point guard and reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose and Howard go at it will be awesome.
For the Magic, this game against the Bulls early in the season on national television will allow Howard to see where the team is at. The Bulls are an elite team, and if the Magic cannot beat them, they won't get to the Finals.
Mavericks at Celtics, January 11 on ESPN
3 of 5The defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks come to Boston on January 11 for a nationally televised game on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. EST.
The Mavericks and Celtics have played some epic games the past few seasons, and watching Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki square off against each other is always exciting to watch.
Both teams will be looking to see how they stack up against the elite of the opposing conference in this matchup.
Heat at Clippers, January 11 on ESPN
4 of 5Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin is one of the best young stars of the NBA, and his team will face the Miami Heat for the first time on January 11 after the Mavericks play the Celtics.
Talk about an awesome doubleheader; January 11 is going to be an awesome night of basketball.
The Clippers are a good team and will get an early chance to prove they are a real playoff caliber team when they host the defending Eastern Conference champs.
Knicks at Miami, January 27 on ESPN
5 of 5Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks will travel to Miami for the first time on January 27.
The Knicks played well against the Heat last season after acquiring Anthony from the Denver Nuggets prior to the trading deadline.
The Knicks will be an improved team from last year, and they will be a challenge for the Heat in the East. This matchup has the potential to be a fabulous NBA rivalry for the next few seasons.
