NBA Preseason Tips Off Tonight
Pro basketball is back!
The NBA preseason begins Friday night. Five games are scheduled for tip-off:
Rather than playing the usual month of preseason games which is customary in October, this year's slate will be much shorter and likely an early window in what's ahead for the 2020-21 regular season. That could make these games more in line with what we would normally see, since starting lineups will have only 11 days to whip into shape for the December 21st opening night.
Here are the key dates for the upcoming NBA season, which is subject to change due to COVID concerns and possible adjustments:
December 11-19 – NBA preseason games
December 22 – March 4, 2021 – First-half of the regular season
March 5-10 – 2021 All-Star Break
March 11 – May 16 – Second-half of the regular season
Playoffs are expected to start mid- to late May, which would be the normal playing schedule for the NBA.
For those looking at basketball and betting opportunities, look to these preseason games as conditioning exercises to get starting lineups into game shape ready to play. Expect less experimentation with roster changes and sloppy exchanges, as is customarily the case in preseason basketball.
If you must get down in action tonight, look closely at Houston, Portland, and the LA Clippers, which might have just a little more motivation to come out of the locker room strong to make a statement for the regular season ahead.
