Breaking down Cavs' 2012-13 schedule
Quick notes on the Cavaliers' 2012-13 schedule, released by the NBA on Thursday:
1. The Cavs open the season Oct. 30 at home against the Wizards. It's one of just three games to tip off the 2012-13 season, and the lone one of the night that won't be televised by TNT. But Cavs and Wizards fans should be treated to seeing two backcourts of the future – the Cavs' featuring Kyrie Irving and No. 4 overall draft pick Dion Waiters, the Wizards' featuring John Wall and No. 3 overall pick Bradley Beal.
2. Following another home game against the Bulls three nights later, the Cavs immediately hit the road for a rather strange six-game road swing. It starts in Milwaukee and ends in Brooklyn, with games at the L.A. Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns and Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder sandwiched in between. The Cavs defeated the Thunder in OKC last season.
3. Since everyone always wants to know, the Cavs meet old friend (enemy?) LeBron James and the Heat on the following dates: at Miami, Nov. 24; at Miami, Feb. 24; at Cleveland, March 20; and at Cleveland, April 15. The last one is the Cavs' final home game of the regular season.
4. Thanks to the lockout, the Cavs didn't face the Lakers in Cleveland last season. Such won't be the case this year, with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, coach Mike Brown and the rest paying a visit to Quicken Loans Arena on Dec. 11. The Cavs' lone appearance in L.A. to face the Lakers is scheduled for Jan. 13.
5. Eighty-one of the Cavs' 82 games will be televised by FOX Sports Ohio. The lone exception is a home game against the Bulls on Dec. 5. That is the Cavs' lone scheduled appearance on national television – although the national TV schedule tends to change later in the season. But for the Cavs to land another game on national TV, they'll likely have to be in the hunt for a playoff spot.
6. The Cavs play 10 Friday home games, six Saturday home games, and just one Sunday home game (vs. the Magic on April 7). Meanwhile, eight of their 12 games in February take place at The Q.
7. Kevin Durant and the Thunder make their lone appearance in Cleveland on Feb. 2. Other notable appearances at The Q: J.J. Hickson and the Trail Blazers (Dec. 1); GM Danny Ferry's Hawks (Dec. 28 and April 9); No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis and the Hornets (Feb. 20); Jared Sullinger and the Celtics (Jan. 22 and March 27); and Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the Clippers (March 1).
8. For the Cavs' complete 2012-13 schedule, visit this page on cavs.com.
Follow Sam Amico on Twitter @SamAmicoFSO