Notes on the Trail Blazers' release of their 2024-2025 NBA schedule

The Portland Trail Blazers released their 2024-2025 schedule Thursday, Aug. 15 along with the rest of the NBA.

No surprise following a 21-61 season, the Blazers have only one real nationally televised game and that comes on Jan. 28 against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks and Damian Lillard. Portland plays on NBA TV three times as well Dec. 26 at home against Utah, March 2 at Cleveland and March 30 at New York.

The Blazers have 13 back-to-backs, three of which are home-away, six are both away and four are both at home. None of them are away and then back home for game two.

Here's a month-by-month look at the schedule with some notes added in for interesting matchups for each flip of the calendar:

October

Oct 11: at LA Clippers, 7 p.m. (preseason)

Oct. 13: at Sacramento, 3 p.m. (preseason)

Oct. 16: vs. Ratiopharm ULM, 7 p.m. (Germany, preseason)

Oct. 18: vs. Utah, 7 p.m. (preseason)

Oct. 23: vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.

- A cool season-opener after the run Steph Curry just had in the Olympics.

Oct. 25: vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Oct. 27: vs. New Orleans, 3 p.m.

Oct. 28: at Sacramento, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30: at LA Clippers, 7:30 p.m.

- The Blazers first game inside the advanced Intuit Dome that is sure to be crown jewel for NBA arenas at least for a few years after what owner Steve Ballmer has cooked up in LA.

November

Nov. 1: vs. Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Nov. 2: at Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Nov. 4: at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 7: at San Antonio, 5 p.m.

Nov. 8: at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Nov. 10: vs. Memphis, 6 p.m.

- An early home matchup with the Grizzlies, a team that hopes to have Ja Morant back for a full year and wanting to return to the top of the NBA standings.

Nov. 12: vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m. (NBA Cup West Group A game)

- We'll see if they have new court designs again this year for the NBA Cup, and this would be the first chance to see that and another good Timberwolves team.

Nov. 13: vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Nov. 17: vs. Atlanta, 3 p.m.

Nov. 20: at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m.

- Portland lost a game in OKC last year by 60+ points. Blazers fans hope to avoid a trainwreck like that again.

Nov. 22: at Houston, 5 p.m. (NBA Cup West Group A game)

Nov. 23: at Houston, 5 p.m.

Nov. 25: at Memphis, 5 p.m.

Nov. 27: at Indiana, 4 p.m.

Nov. 29: vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m. (NBA Cup West Group A game)

- Unless Portland pulls some upsets, likely the last Cup game of the year at home.

December

Dec. 1: vs. Dallas, 6 p.m.

Dec. 3: at LA Clippers, 7:30 p.m. (NBA Cup West Group A game)

Dec. 6: vs. Utah, 7 p.m.

Dec. 8: at LA Lakers, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 10, 11, 12 or 13: NBA Cup Quarterfinals or eliminated teams matchup

Dec. 14, 15 or 16: NBA Cup Semifinals or eliminated teams matchup

Dec. 17: NBA Cup title game

Dec. 19: vs. Denver, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21: at San Antonio, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 23: at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 26: vs. Utah, 7 p.m. (NBA TV)

Dec. 28: vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.

- A matchup with the reigning Western Conference champs. A chance to see Luka Doncic up close once more for local fans.

Dec. 30: vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

- Will Joel Embiid play? Who knows.

January

Jan. 2: at LA Lakers, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 4: at Milwaukee, 5 p.m.

Jan. 6: at Detroit, 4 p.m.

- An absolute tankoff could be in the works between these two with Cooper Flagg on the horizon.

Jan. 8: at New Orleans, 5 p.m.

Jan. 9: at Dallas, 5:30 p.m.

- End of a five-game road trip, good luck.

Jan. 11: vs. Miami, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14: vs. Brooklyn, 7 p.m.

Jan. 16: vs. LA Clippers, 7 p.m.

Jan. 18: vs. Houston, 7 p.m.

Jan. 19: vs. Chicago, 6 p.m.

Jan. 21: at Miami, 4:30 p.m.

- Not nationally televised but is taking place during this NBA Rivalry Week...

Jan. 23: at Orlando, 4 p.m.

Jan. 24: at Charlotte, 4 p.m.

Jan. 26: vs. Oklahoma City, 3 p.m.

Jan. 28: vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m. (TNT)

- No duh on this one, Damian Lillard back at Moda Center for his second career game as a visitor.

Jan. 30: vs. Orlando, 7 p.m.

- The team everyone seems to be high on coming into the 2024-2025 season, the only chance to see the young and upcoming Magic in Portland.

February

Feb. 1: vs. Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Feb. 3: vs. Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4: vs. Indiana, 7 p.m.

Feb. 6: vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m.

Feb. 8: at Minnesota, 5 p.m.

Feb. 10: at Denver, 6 p.m.

Feb. 12: at Denver, 6 p.m.

- Is this still a rivalry? If so, back-to-back games to watch in Denver and against the reigning MVP.

Feb. 14-16: All-Star Break at Golden State

Feb. 20: vs. LA Lakers, 7 p.m.

Feb. 22: vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Feb. 24: at Utah, 6 p.m.

Feb. 26: at Washington, 4 p.m.

- #TankWatch #BagforFlagg

Feb. 28: at Brooklyn, 4:30 p.m.

March

March 2: at Cleveland, 12:30 p.m. (NBA TV)

March 3: at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.

March 5: at Boston, 4 p.m.

March 7: at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m.

- Absolute brutal road trip comes to a close, maybe this will be the 60+ loss this season.

March 9: vs. Detroit, 6 p.m.

- Spring time means mystery injury time, especially for this tank matchup.

March 10: at Golden State, 7 p.m.

March 12: vs. New York, 7 p.m.

March 16: vs. Toronto, 3 p.m.

March 18: vs. Washington, 7 p.m.

- Watch some Blazers players disappear from the starting lineup.

March 19: vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.

March 21: vs. Denver, 7 p.m.

March 23: vs. Boston, 3 p.m.

- The chance to see the world champions in person. Yes, world champions.

March 25: vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m.

March 27: at Sacramento, 7 p.m.

March 30: at New York, 3 p.m. (NBA TV)

April

April 1: at Atlanta, 4:30 p.m.

April 3: at Toronto, 4:30 p.m.

April 4: at Chicago, 5 p.m.

- Might be a battle for lottery odds at the end of the season to watch.

April 6: vs. San Antonio, 3 p.m.

April 9: at Utah, 6 p.m.

- Might be a battle for lottery odds at the end of the season to watch.

April 11: vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.

April 13: vs. LA Lakers, 12:30 p.m.