The NBA waited as long as it could but the league finally released the 2018-19 schedule Friday afternoon. The Knicks now know where they’re going and when this season. It all starts Oct. 17 at Madison Square Garden against the Hawks, when Trae Young and Kevin Knox are set to take the floor. But then there’s 81 more games.
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Teams will play an average of 13.3 back-to-back games this season, the NBA says, which is an all-time low for a fourth consecutive season. The Knicks will play 15 back-to-backs, however, which is tied with the Hornets and Wizards for a league high. They’ll travel 49,431 total miles this year, fifth-most in the NBA, according to Positive Residual. They’ll log a few more miles when they play a road game in London on Jan. 17 against the Wizards. The longest trip will be a six-game swing that starts in Milwaukee on Dec. 27 and ends at Golden State on Jan. 8. There’s also a hellacious stretch in March with a three-game West Coast swing, followed by a home game against the Kings, and then games at Minnesota, Indiana and San Antonio.
The Knicks will have a league-low 16 games this year where they hold a rest advantage (more time off than their opponent), according to Positive Residual, tying with Detroit and Portland. They’ll play 19 games at a rest disadvantage, which is middle of the pack.
In an interesting quirk, the Knicks have three games this year in which the visiting team will play at 9 a.m. local time. They’ll host the Lakers and LeBron James on March 17, the Kings on March 9, and the Clippers on March 24, all at noon at MSG. The Knicks will be on brunch time, but those California-based teams will still be thinking it’s breakfast.
Here's the whole Knicks schedule: pic.twitter.com/7xDzRjKBEN
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) August 10, 2018
The Knicks will have a difficult start to the season. Kristaps Porzingis probably won’t be back until 2019 at the earliest. They’ll play 14 of the first 23 games on the road, making that time without him even more difficult. How’s this for an early-season stretch: Boston, at Milwaukee, at Miami, Golden State and Indiana, all in the first eight games of the season.
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The Knicks will play just five games on national TV, including the Bucks at home on Christmas Day. They’ll host the Thunder on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but that will be on MSG Network. They’ll host the Pacers on Halloween, be in Denver on New Year’s Day, and be in Atlanta on Valentine’s Day.
When it comes to reunions, the Knicks will have a few. David Fizdale will return to Memphis for the first on Nov. 25 after getting fired by the Grizzlies last year. Kyle O’Quinn will come back to New York on Oct. 31 after signing with the Pacers. Michael Beasley and the Lakers will host the Knicks on Jan. 4. Mike D’Antoni and Carmelo Anthony, who has agreed to sign with the Rockets, come to MSG on Jan. 23.
And if you’re reading this just to learn when the Knicks’ season will end, game No. 82 is April 10 against the Pistons at Madison Square Garden. Who knows what we’ll be looking forward to by then?
Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
