Rod Walker: 12 games on the New Orleans Pelicans' schedule you should mark on your calendar (2024)

The NBA released its schedule for the 2024-25 season Thursday.

Here are 12 dates on the New Orleans Pelicans schedule to keep an eye on.

(Oct. 23) vs. Chicago Bulls: The Pelicans start the season at home, which may or may not be a good thing. The Pels were one of just three playoff teams with a better road record than home record last season. The Pels went 21-19 in the Smoothie King Center. That doesn’t include the three straight losses in the Play-In Tournament (Lakers) and the two playoff losses to the Thunder. Counting the postseason, the Pels lost 9 of their last 11 home games.

(Oct. 27) at Portland Trailblazers:This game may not move the needle much for you, but it’s part of a busy sports day for New Orleans sports fans. This is one of five dates this season the Pelicans and Saints play on the same day. (Saints are at Chargers on this day.) The other four dates are Nov. 3 (Pels vs. Hawks, Saints at Panthers); Dec. 1 (Pels at Knicks, Saints vs. Rams); Dec. 8 (Pels at Spurs, Saints at Giants); and Jan. 5 (Pels at Wizards, Saints at Bucs).

(Nov. 13) vs. OKC Thunder: Getting swept in the playoffs still stings for the Pelicans. This is a chance to exact some revenge against a Thunder team that ended the Pelicans' season in embarrassing fashion. The Thunder was the surprise of the NBA last season, claiming the No. 1 seed in the West. The expectations are sky-high in OKC again.

(Nov. 15) vs. Denver Nuggets: This is the first night of a brutal back-to-back as Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets come to town for the Pelicans first game in group play of the In-Season Tournament. The Pelicans reached the semifinals of the tournament last season. Their bid to get back starts against the Nuggets.

(Nov. 16) vs. Los Angeles Lakers:LeBron and Anthony Davis were a thorn in the Pelicans’ side last season, winning four of the five games. That included an embarrassing 133-89 Pelicans' loss in the semifinals of the In-Season Tournament in Las Vegas and a 110-106 loss in the play-in game.

(Nov. 19) at Dallas Mavericks:Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the Mavs to the NBA Finals last season. The Pelicans' second game in In-Season Tournament group play should be a good measuring stick.

(Nov. 29) at Memphis Grizzlies: Zion vs. Ja. The two former AAU teammates have only faced each other 8 times in the five seasons they’ve been in the league since going first and second in the 2019 draft. Each has won four games apiece. This Black Friday game will be part of the In-Season Tournament group play and will be broadcast on NBA TV. It's one of 13 times the Pels are scheduled to be on national TV.

(Dec. 2) at Atlanta Hawks: Dejounte Murray, acquired by the Pelicans this offseason in a trade, returns to the ATL to face the team he spent the past two seasons playing for. The Murray-Trae Young experiment didn’t really work as the Hawks lost in the first round of the playoffs in 2023 and failed to make it this past season. Murray will surely be amped up for this one.

(Jan. 3) vs. Washington Wizards: Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. “The Wizards?” Well, this will be Jonas Valanciunas’ return to New Orleans after three seasons in New Orleans. Pelicans fans should show up and show their appreciation to the big man. And no need to worry about any load management. You know Valanciunas is going to play every night, just like he did last season when he played in all 82 games.

(Jan. 12) at Boston Celtics:The Pelicans get a shot at the reigning NBA champions. The Pelicans haven’t defeated Boston since the 2020-21 season, a losing streak that is now 7 games in a row. Can they end the streak on the road? If not, the champs come to the Smoothie King Center on Jan. 31.

(Jan. 20) vs. Utah Jazz: The Pelicans are playing on MLK Day, which is normally a big deal in the NBA. But this game won't be broadcast nationally. In fact, the NBA has just three nationally televised games on a day that's usually one of the marquee dates. Why? Well, the College Football Championship game is that night.

(April 13). vs. OKC: If the last few seasons are any indication, this regular season finale could have significant impact on the Pelican’s postseason. Will this game decide if the Pelicans make it to the Play-In Tournament? Or will they have already secured a playoff spot? Or will they have been eliminated already? That remans to be seen. But based on the past few years, this game will mean something.