The San Antonio Spurs today announced their five-game 2021 preseason schedule that tips off at home on Oct. 4 and includes three contests inside the AT&T Center. Tickets for the 2021 preseason will go on sale at noon today at Spurs.com. The 2021-22 Spurs season is presented by H-E-B. The Spurs will tip off the 2021 preseason campaign at home, hosting the Utah Jazz at the AT&T Center on Monday, Oct. 4. Games against the Miami Heat on Friday, Oct. 8 and the Houston Rockets on Friday, Oct. 15 will round out the home slate. The Silver and Black will travel to Detroit to face the Pistons on Wednesday, Oct. 6, and will play the Magic in Orlando on Sunday, Oct. 10.
Schedule Rumors
Brad Townsend: NBA Summer League game schedule was announced moments ago. pic.twitter.com/dckmoCCbJ2
Lakers announce 2021-22 preseason schedule
Kyle Goon: The Lakers have the 2021-22 preseason schedule set. pic.twitter.com/iXJg4idAia
Shams Charania: Bucks-Suns NBA Finals: Game 1: July 6 Game 2: July 8 Game 3: July 11 Game 4: July 14 Game 5*: July 17 Game 6*: July 20 Game 7*: July 22
And we aren’t even talking about the demands of the local broadcasters these teams rely on or the complication of the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to begin July 23. From the team executives I talk to, the Tokyo factor was an underrated schedule pressure.
Sources said the league disagrees that the schedule or short offseason has increased injuries or wear and tear on players or that it has limited the amount of time for rest and recovery. Citing internal data, the league says injuries rate similarly to last season. Officials note that in a normal calendar year, teams play 82 games and return after 14 weeks off. Over this two-year period, the average team played 20 fewer games than it would’ve played in such a stretch and had an additional two months off. Of course, those numbers don’t take into account the complicating factors wrought by the pandemic, such as early testing times or other elements tied to COVID-19 protocols.
