The teams will take at least two two-day breaks
While the date and start time for Game 1 of the Bucks’ opening round series with the Pacers came out a few days ago, we now know what the rest of the series is looking like from a date perspective. We also know a few of the tip times and broadcasters, so let’s run them down:
- Game 1 – Saturday, April 19th, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 12 p.m. CDT, ESPN
- Game 2 – Tuesday, April 22nd, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 6 p.m. CDT, NBA TV
- Game 3 – Friday, April 25th, Fiserv Forum, 7 p.m. CDT, ESPNU & NBA TV
- Game 4 – Sunday, April 7th, Fiserv Forum, 8:30 p.m. CDT, TNT
- Game 5 (if necessary) – Tuesday, April 29, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, time and broadcaster TBA
- Game 6 (if necessary) – Friday, May 2, Fiserv Forum, time and broadcaster TBA
- Game 7 (if necessary) – Sunday, May 4, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, time and broadcaster TBA
As always, first-round games is also handled by each team’s local broadcasters, so you can see each of them on FanDuel Sports Wisconsin with Lisa Byington and Marques Johnson. ESPNU for an NBA game is a new one—probably has something to do with the NFL Draft. Otherwise, only one national game is banished to NBA TV, so that’s good at least.
You’ll note not one, not two, but three two-day breaks in the series. You might think Easter Sunday has something to do with this, but it’s not as if games aren’t happening that day, as the four series that don’t tip off the day before will on the holiday. Maybe the league wants Clippers-Nuggets and Pistons-Knicks to have their own night due to the country’s two largest media markets being involved.
It’s pretty common for a series to take two days off in between games at one point in the series, usually when the series is shifting from one city to another. That’s what happened between Games 2 and 3 last spring when these two teams met. Seemingly every year, two days off happen between home games in at least one series around the league, and that’s what the Bucks and Pacers will have early next week. Immediately taking another two days off as the series moves to Milwaukee is kind of interesting, but what’s really bizarre is how they will have a third two-day break between Games 5 and 6, if necessary. I’ve seen two pairs, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a series scheduled with three pairs of consecutive days off.
However, I doubt you’ll find the Bucks or any of their fans complaining about this extra rest, especially between what could be some of the more crucial games in the series. The Bucks are no longer one of the NBA’s oldest teams—without 34-year-old Damian Lillard, the only rotation players they have over age 31 are Taurean Prince and Brook Lopez—thanks to their deadline moves, so they’ll happily take more time for Lillard’s recovery. Perhaps the player who will benefit the most is Giannis, given the large role he’ll likely have carrying the offense, which led the league in offensive rating over the season’s final two weeks.
If further games become necessary, we’ll include their times and broadcasters in our game recaps.