Pelicans Release Schedule, Have Record Number Of Nationally Televised Games

Zion Williamson, Jrue Holiday and the rest of the New Orleans Pelicans tip-off a new era against the defending champion Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, October 22nd, at 7:00 pm.

In years past, a matchup like the season opener would be one of only a few marquee games to get a regular-season national spotlight for the franchise.

For the upcoming season, it's one of many.

The Pelicans will appear in a franchise-record 30 nationally televised games (if including NBA-TV), including 11 on ESPN, 10 on NBA-TV, 7 on TNT and 2 on ABC.

TV Networks are clearly buying into the Pelicans hype.

A Thanksgiving eve game at the Smoothie King Center against the Los Angels Lakers will be a premiere ticket, as Anthony Davis visits New Orleans for the first time since his trade demand to the L.A.

All four matchups versus the Lakers will be on national television (3 on ESPN, 1 on TNT).

Outside of the marquee matchups, the back-to-backs are always concerning, in particular, a road back-to-back, and the Pelicans have five road back-to-backs on the schedule, and 12 overall.

Another difficult task, 16 occasions of 3 games in 4 nights.

New Orleans wants to lead the NBA in pace of play. It'll be tested most on those occasions.