Brooklyn Nets open 2023-24 season vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays October 25

The 2023-24 NBA schedule is out and the Brooklyn Nets will open up vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center at 7:30 p.m. on October 25.

Unlike in the days of the “Big Three,” Brooklyn will not be seen nationally that often, compared to previous years, appearing on ESPN three times and TNT twice. No games are scheduled on ABC. That’s down from 11 last season. The Nets originally had 13 games on the big national networks, but two dates were switched to other games following the superstar trades at the deadline. Of course, it is also way down from 2021-22 when the Nets had 26 nationally TV games on ABC, ESPN and TNT, including the marquee ABC game on Christmas Day vs. the Lakers. The Nets will off on Christmas this season. They will also have six games on NBA TV.

Among the big games on the schedule:

• Kevin Durant will return to Barclays Center with the Phoenix Suns on January 31 in a game scheduled for ESPN.
• Kyrie Irving will return with Dallas Mavericks a week later on February 6 in a game scheduled for TNT.
• Joe Harris, who until he was traded to the Pistons was the longest tenured Net, will be back in Brooklyn on December 23.
• Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson return to Phoenix on December 13 while Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie return to Dallas in second game of the season on October 27.
• NBA champion Denver Nuggets will in town on December 22.
• Victor Wembanyama, the overall No. 1, will make his Brooklyn debut on February 10 while at the other end of the scale, LeBron James and the Lakers are in the city March 31, Steph Curry and the Warriors on February 5.
• As long as he’s healthy, Mikal Bridges 400th consecutive game will take place November 8 at Barclays Center vs. the Clippers. Bridges streak is currently the longest in the NBA.
• The Nets will be at home for MLK Day vs. the Heat.

As previously announced, the Nets games in the NBA’s new in-season tournament begin November 3, all of which count as regular season games.

The Nets will have three five-game home stands, November 15 through December 2, January 23 through 31 and February 5 through 13. The longest road trip will be six games, running from March 7 through 17 taking the Nets to Detroit, Charlotte, Cleveland, Orlando, Indianapolis and San Antonio.

The Nets will play 14 back-to-backs, accounting for over a third of their schedule, including nine that require travel. One of the back-to-backs is vs. a home-and-home vs Boston on February 13 and 14. Per @presidual, the Nets will travel 47,506 miles this season, that’s second in the NBA to the Clippers who will travel 50,570. One reason why: the Nets play in the NBA Paris game January 11. That’s 7,298 miles round trip. (Nets will have three full days off before and after Paris game.)

The inter-borough rivalry begins vs. the Knicks December 20 at Barclays Center, then January 23, also in Brooklyn, followed by games at MSG on March 23 and April 12. The Nets — and Ben Simmons — will play at Philadelphia on February 3 and April 14, the final game of the regular season. The 76ers will be in Brooklyn on November 23 and March 5.

Brooklyn will be tested early. Of the first five games, four will be on the road, then they will move into November which looks to be tough month with three games against Eastern Conference champ Miami Heat and two games vs. the Boston Celtics as well as games vs. the Bucks and Clippers.

The big West Coast trip is scheduled for December 11 - 18, with games in Sacramento, Phoenix, Denver, Golden State and Utah. That’s four playoff teams in a week.

In addition to the Nets-Suns game, the other two ESPN games will be against the Celtics in Boston on November 10 and the Cavs in Cleveland on March 10. The only TNT game other than the Irving game in Brooklyn will be January 23 vs. the Knicks in Brooklyn, part of “Rivals Week.”

Overall, 17 of Brooklyn’s 40 home games will be played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and the Nets will host four afternoon contests at Barclays Center.

• Nets’ schedule highlighted by returns of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• Nets 2023-24 schedule: Brooklyn hosts Donovan Mitchell, Cavs on opening night, faces 14 back-to-backs - Kristian Winfield - New York Daily News
• Knicks, Nets both open at home on Oct. 25 as NBA releases full schedules - Evan Barnes - Newsday
• 6 games Nets fans must circle on calendars following NBA schedule release - Erik Slater - Clutch Points
• NBA season to tip off with champion Nuggets hosting Lakers - Tim Bontemps - ESPN