Jazz Have Easiest Schedule, 26 National TV Games
Aug 20, 2021, 3:24 PM
Vivint Smart Home Arena partially filled with Utah Jazz fans (Photo: Ben Anderson/KSL Sports)
(Photo: Ben Anderson/KSL Sports)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz released their 2021-22 regular-season schedule on Friday.
For the first time since 2018-19, the NBA is returning to a full 82-game schedule after the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the previous two seasons to 70 games and 72 games respectively.
The Jazz open the season on October 20 at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder and conclude on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 10.
The @UtahJazz full 82 game schedule. #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/pUUGrvJpgq
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 20, 2021
Jazz Have Easiest Schedule
According to the website positive residuals, the Jazz will have the easiest schedule this season. The site balances how a team traditionally performs at home, on the road, and how much rest they have before each game.
The Jazz will have will 10 games where they have more rest than the opposing team and nine games where they will be at a disadvantage.
According to @presidual, the @UtahJazz have the easiest scheduled this year.#TakeNote | @kslsports
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) August 20, 2021
An additional advantage for the Jazz is only having to play the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers three times each, and, as one of the top teams in the NBA, have an easier schedule by not having to play themselves.
Schedule Heavy On National TV, Holidays
It won’t be difficult to find the Jazz this season as the team will play 26 games on national TV.
The team will play 12 on NBATV, nine games on ESPN, four games on TNT, and one on ABC against the Phoenix Suns on February 27.
Your Christmas Schedule:
Breakfast: 🥞
Presents: 🎁
Nap: 😴@UtahJazz vs. Mavericks: 🎷🎅🎄#TakeNote https://t.co/mGxYqimjXu— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 18, 2021
The Jazz will also be featured heavily on the NBA’s holiday schedule. The team plays on Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Halloween @ Milwaukee Bucks
Christmas Day vs. Dallas Mavericks
New Year’s Eve vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
New Year’s Day vs. Golden State Warriors
Martin Luther King Jr. Day @ Los Angeles Lakers
Jazz Schedule Odds And Ends
The Jazz have 13 sets of back-to-back games, one shot of the league average. Eight of the 13 back-to-back sets will be played on the road while five will be at home.
However, the Jazz have the advantage of hosting two six-game home stands while playing just one six-game road trip.
The five can't miss games on the @utahjazz schedule this season, plus one, as a treat. #takenote https://t.co/fu5qJU1QMk
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) August 20, 2021
The team will have six consecutive home games beginning December 15 and concluding on Christmas Day, and again February 2-14.
The Jazz six-game road trip begins in New York against the Knicks on March 20 and wraps up against the Clippers on July 29.
