NETS FIRST HALF FEATURES 19 GAMES ON NATIONAL TV AND EARLY HOMESTAND

The NBA released the first half of its 2020-21 season and the Nets will play 19 games on national television — ESPN, TNT, ABC and NBA TV, more than half the 37 games they’ll play through March 4, when the first half concludes.

The full schedule for the first half can be found here.

In the first four years of Sean Marks (and Kenny Atkinson’s) time in Brooklyn, the Nets only played 15 games — combined — on national TV: one each in the first three years, then 12 last season. Funny what the addition of a healthy Kevin Durant can do.

In addition to the already reported marquee games on Opening Night (vs. the Warriors) and Christmas Day (vs. the Celtics), the Nets will play the Bucks as part of the NBA’s MLK Day celebration, January 18. All three games will be played at Barclays Center.

Of those 37 games will be 19 home games, including a six-game homestand from December 28 to January 7, their longest of the first half. Of the six, one vs. the 76ers, will be broadcast nationally.

The team’s longest road trip, a West Coast swing, will last five games from February 13 to 21. The Nets will play the Warriors, Kings, Suns, Lakers and Clippers, none back-to-back. All but the Kings game will be broadcast on national TV. The game against the defending champion Lakers takes place at Staples Center on February 18.

The Nets play six back-to-backs and three stretches where they’ll play three games in four nights. There will also be three stretches where the team will have three days off between games.

Some other noteworthy games...

—Nets play the Knicks only once in the first half, on January 13, at Madison Square Garden.

—Nets will play two consecutive home games against the defending Eastern Conference champion Heat on January. 23 and 25.

—Former Suns Steve Nash, Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike D’Antoni, will return to Phoenix on February 16.

—Nets will play the Rockets, whose star James Harden wants a trade to Brooklyn, on March 3, their last game of the first half.

The league’s second half will begin on March 10. No date has been set for the release of that part of the schedule.

On paper, the Nets opening skeen looks relatively easy with six of the first seven games against non-playoff teams. However, three of those games will be the season opener against a much healthier Warriors club and two against the much improved Hawks.

The Nets will continue to abide by New York State regulations on large gatherings likely meaning no fans in the stands at Barclays at least through the first half of the season.

• Nets’ first-half NBA schedule: Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are a go - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• What to know about the first half of the Nets’ 2020-21 schedule - Alex Schiffer - The Athletic New York
• Nets will be on national TV 19 times in first half of season - Brian Lewis - New York Post