Rockets first-half schedule released

Get those calendars out, Red Nation!

The NBA released its schedule for the season up until the All-Star Break Friday afternoon. The league released just the first half of games to prepare for any games postponed from the coronavirus.

The schedule is mapped out until March 5 when the All-Star Break is set to take place.

The Rockets have four back-to-backs in the first half of the year, including a brutal stretch in early February where the team plays six games (five road, one home) in nine days between Feb. 1-9.

The season also features some “two-game home series” in an effort to limit travel between teams. The Rockets have four of these series — two home series against the Kings and Lakers and two road series against the Spurs and Thunder.

Here’s a list of the Rockets games:

December

Wed. 12/23 vs. Thunder, Sat. 12/26 @ Trail Blazers, Mon. 12/28 @ Nuggets, Thu. 12/31 vs. Kings

The season opener comes against the Thunder, who will look far different from the team they faced in the first round of the playoffs this summer.

January

Sat. 1/2 vs. Kings, Mon. 1/4 vs. Mavericks, Wed. 1/6 @ Pacers, Fri. 1/8 vs. Magic, Sun. 1/10 vs. Lakers, Tue. 1/12 vs. Lakers, Thu. 1/14 @ Spurs, Sat. 1/16 @ Spurs, Mon. 1/18 @ Bulls, Wed. 1/20 vs. Suns, Fri. 1/22 @ Pistons, Sat. 1/23 @ Mavericks, Tue. 1/26 vs. Wizards, Thu. 1/28 vs. Trail Blazers, Sat. 1/30 @ Pelicans

The Rockets first crack at the Lakers will come in early January during a two-game series in Houston.

Russell Westbrook will return to Houston on the 26th to face the Rockets in the first of two meetings this season.

February

Mon. 2/1 @ Thunder, Wed. 2/3 @ Thunder, Thu. 2/4 @ Grizzlies, Sat. 2/6 vs. Spurs, Mon. 2/8 @ Hornets, Tue. 2/9 @ Pelicans, Thu. 2/11 vs. Heat, Sat. 2/13 @ Knicks, Mon. 2/15 @ Wizards, Wed. 2/17 @ 76ers, Fri. 2/19 vs. Mavericks, Sat. 2/20 vs. Pacers, Mon. 2/22 vs. Bulls, Wed. 2/24 @ Cavaliers, Fri. 2/26 @ Raptors [in Tampa]

The Eastern Conference Champion Heat make their annual trip to Houston to face the Rockets on TNT.

John Wall makes his return to DC to face his former team.

March

Mon. 3/1 vs. Cavaliers, Wed. 3/3 vs. Nets

In the final game before the All-Star Break, Kevin Durant and the Nets come to town in a nationally-televised contest.

Red Nation, which games are you looking forward to the most?