The Knicks' 2014-15 regular season schedule is out and now we can begin to imagine the long and winding path to playoff dreams. A blank NBA calendar with only two rough start and end points is suddenly loaded with storylines and travel logistics; we can already envision how the nationally-televised showdowns (23 for New York) and four-games-in-five-nights (three) might impact the ebb and flow of the season.
We break down those numbers and much more in what follows. Let us know what matchups you're looking forward to on Twitter and Facebook using #NYKSaveTheDate!
Schedule Basics
The Knicks play each Eastern Conference team four times – twice at home and twice on the road, except: Atlanta (three games – one at home, two on the road), Chicago (three games – one at home, two on the road), Cleveland (three games – two at home, one on the road) and Miami (three games - two at home, one on the road). The Knicks play each Western Conference team two times – once on the road, once at home.
Notable Dates
Opening Night/Home-Opener............................................................. Wednesday, Oct. 29 vs. Chicago Bulls
Christmas Day.............................................................................. Thursday, Dec. 25 vs. Washington Wizards
Martin Luther King Jr. Day.. Monday, Jan. 19 vs. New Orleans Pelicans (16th straight year, 29th overall)
St. Patrick’s Day...................................................................................... Tuesday, Mar. 17 (vs. San Antonio)
Easter............................................................................................................ Sunday, Apr. 5 (vs. Philadelphia)
NBA Global Games........................................................................ Thursday, Jan. 15 at O2, London, England
Super Bowl Sunday........................................................................................ Sunday, Feb. 1 (vs. L.A. Lakers)
NBA All-Star Weekend............................................................................................... Feb. 13-15 in New York
Consecutive Home Games........................................................................................ Four games (Nov. 10-16)
Consecutive Road Games............................................................................................ Five games (Mar. 9-15)
Knicks/Rangers Doubleheader at MSG................................. Sunday, Feb. 22 (vs. Cleveland/vs. Columbus)
Knicks/College Hockey Doubleheader at MSG............... Saturday, Jan. 10 (vs. Charlotte/Harvard vs. Yale)
Knicks/Women’s College Basketball........................ Sunday, Jan. 4 (vs. Milwaukee/Maggie Dixon Classic)
Farthest Trip In Back-To-Back Games............................... NY to Memphis (Jan. 4 & 5) approx. 1,100 miles
Shortest Trip In Back-To-Back Games.................................... Brooklyn to NY (Feb. 6 & 7) approx. 5½ miles
The Knicks play four-games-in-five-nights on three occasions & 10 games start before 6 p.m.
Games By Month Games By Days of the Week Back-To-Back Sets Games On
October......... 2 (1H/1A) Sunday.......... 13 (9H/4A) Home/Away..... 10 0 Days of Rest..... 20
November...... 16 (8H/8A) Monday......... 9 (4H/5A) Away/Home..... 4 1 Day of Rest.... 47
December...... 16 (7H/9A) Tuesday....... 8 (5H/3A) Away/Away...... 6 2 Days of Rest..... 8
January......... 14 (8H/6A) Wednesday..... 17 (7H/10A) Home/Home...... 0 3 Days of Rest...... 4
February........ 11 (6H/5A) Thursday........ 9 (4H/5A) Totals 20 4 Days of Rest..... 1
March............ 15 (6H/9A) Friday........... 14 (6H/8A) (last season: 18) 5+ Days of Rest... 1
April.............. 8 (5H/3A) Saturday........... 12 (6H/6A)
National TV Schedule
Oct. 29...... vs. Chicago................. ESPN............ 8:00 p.m.
Oct. 30...... at Cleveland................. TNT............. 8:00 p.m.
Nov. 2....... vs. Charlotte.............. NBA TV.......... 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 10..... vs. Atlanta................. NBA TV.......... 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 26..... at Dallas..................... ESPN............ 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4....... vs. Cleveland............... TNT............. 8:00 p.m.
Dec. 10..... at San Antonio............. ESPN............ 8:00 p.m.
Dec. 16..... vs. Dallas.................... ESPN............ 8:00 p.m.
Dec. 18..... at Chicago................... TNT............. 8:00 p.m.
Dec. 25..... vs. Washington............ ESPN.......... 12:00 p.m.
Dec. 27..... at Sacramento............ NBA TV......... 10:00 p.m.
Jan. 8....... vs. Houston.................. TNT............. 8:00 p.m.
Jan. 15...... Milwaukee (at London).... NBA TV.......... 3:00 p.m.
Jan. 24...... at Charlotte................ NBA TV.......... 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 28...... vs. Oklahoma City........ ESPN............ 8:00 p.m.
Jan. 29...... at Indiana.................... TNT............. 8:00 p.m.
Feb. 1....... vs. L.A. Lakers............. ESPN............ 2:00 p.m.
Feb. 6....... at Brooklyn.................. ESPN............ 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 22..... vs. Cleveland............... ABC............. 1:00 p.m.
Mar. 12..... at L.A. Lakers............... TNT........... 10:30 p.m.
Mar. 15..... at Phoenix................. NBA TV.......... 9:00 p.m.
Mar. 25..... vs. L.A. Clippers........... ESPN............ 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 1........ vs. Brooklyn............... NBA TV.......... 7:30 p.m.
* - Exclusive to national broadcast