Russell Westbrook and the Thunder play their first preseason game in Madrid (Getty)
After having a total of three games on the schedule this weekend, the NBA’s preseason schedule kicks into full gear on Monday. Their are seven games scheduled to be played, including the Oklahoma City Thunder taking on Real Madrid in Spain. The Thunder, who began training camp September 24 to account for their trip to Spain, took in a soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday and met members of Real Madrid’s soccer team afterwards.
The other six games on the schedule will be played stateside, and in total three of the contests will be broadcast on NBA TV.
Among those contests is Utah visiting Portland in the preseason opener for both. The Blazers, led by guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, reached the second round of the Western Conference playoffs last season and are looking to make a run at the Northwest Division title. Also hoping to be in the mix are the Jazz, who just missed out on the playoffs last season despite multiple injuries to key players and a point guard situation that was shaky until Shelvin Mack joined the team in mid-February by way of a trade with the Hawks.
Utah traded for George Hill this offseason, and the return of Dante Exum from a torn ACL that sidelined him for the entire 2015-16 season will also help at the point guard position.
San Antonio also opens preseason play, and Gregg Popovich did not take the full roster to Phoenix for tonight’s game against the Suns. LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, Patty Mills and Tony Parker aren’t making the trip, and with Parker and Mills remaining in San Antonio that means even more time on the court for rookie guard Dejounte Murray.
NBA Schedule: October 3
Damian Lillard and the Blazers host Utah in their preseason opener (Getty)
Note: All times are Eastern.
Thunder at Real Madrid
Time: 2:30 p.m.
TV Channel: NBA TV
Bucks at Bulls
Time: 8:00 p.m.
TV Channel: NBA TV (national), CSN-Chicago
Magic at Grizzlies
Time: 8:00 p.m.
TV Channel: None
Hornets at Mavericks
Time: 8:30 p.m.
TV Channel: TXA21
Nuggets vs. Raptors (in Calgary)
Time: 9:00 p.m.
TV Channel:SN1/E/O/W (in Canada)
Spurs at Suns
Time: 10:00 p.m.
TV Channel: None
Jazz at Blazers
Time: 10:00 p.m.
TV Channel: NBA TV (national), ROOT Sports NW, CSN-NW
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