The Utah Jazz released their 2018-19 full season schedule today. As previously noted, the Jazz are being heavily highlighted on the NBA’s national schedule, as they’ll both an international game in Mexico City on December 15th against the Orlando Magic, and a Christmas Day matchup with the Portland Trailblazers. As Eric Woodyard from the Deseret News tweeted out, the Jazz will be featured on ESPN, TNT, and NBATV 17 times through out the year. The spotlight is shining as brightly on the Jazz as it has since the finals years, and that’s thanks to the superstar potential of Donovan Mitchell, and Rudy Gobert.
The easiest stretch of the schedule may be the final 16 games of the year, when the Jazz play just 3 games against teams that made the playoffs last season, each of whom were 8th seeds (Washington and Minnesota.)
Additionally, as Andy Larsen from the Salt Lake Tribune and Salt City Hoops Show pointed out on twitter, the Jazz play Golden State, New Orleans, San Antonio, and the Los Angeles Clippers only three times each. All of those teams should finish with records above .500.
The Jazz season opener is on October 17th at the Sacramento Kings, and make their home debut against the defending champion Warriors on the 19th.
Perhaps the game Jazz fans are most excited for is Gordon Hayward’s return to Salt Lake City, that happens November 9th at the Vivint Smart Home arena.
