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It's a new era in Houston, Dwight Howard's first official game in Rockets red will come at home Wednesday, Oct. 30, as his new team's first game of the year comes at the Toyota Center.
By landing this year's most coveted free agent, the Rockets went from a decent crew led by James Harden to a team many think can contend in the Western Conference. It'll probably be tough to gauge how good they are by one night in October against the Bobcats, but it will be a memorable evening in Houston as they welcome Howard.
Other notable home openers: The revamped Nets get a true marquee matchup for their first game with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Brooklyn, as they take on the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat on Friday, Nov. 1 -- a game some see as a Eastern Conference Finals preview. The New Orleans Pelicans start their life with a new name, new jerseys, and new floor in New Orleans Arena on the Wednesday, Oct. 30 playing the Indiana Pacers. The Heat, of course, get the big spotlight to open up their year, facing the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Here's a list of every team's first home game of the year:
Atlanta Hawks
vs. Toronto Raptors, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Boston Celtics
vs. Milwaukee Bucks, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Brooklyn Nets
vs. Miami Heat, Nov. 1, 8 p.m. ESPN
Charlotte Bobcats
vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.
Chicago Bulls
vs. New York Knicks, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. TNT
Cleveland Cavaliers
vs. Brooklyn Nets, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.
Dallas Mavericks
vs. Atlanta Hawks, Oct. 30, 8:30 p.m.
Denver Nuggets
vs. Portland Trail Blazers, Nov. 1, 9 p.m.
Detroit Pistons
vs. Washington Wizards, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Golden State Warriors
vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Oct. 30, 10:30 p.m.
Houston Rockets
vs. Charlotte Bobcats, Oct. 30, 8 p.m.
Indiana Pacers
vs. Orlando Magic, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. TNT
Los Angeles Clippers
vs. Golden State Warriors, Oct. 31, 10:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Lakers
vs. Los Angeles Clippers, Oct. 29, 10:30 p.m. TNT
Miami Heat
vs. Chicago Bulls, Oct. 29, 8 p.m. TNT
Memphis Grizzlies
vs. Detroit Pistons, Nov. 1, 8 p.m.
Minnesota Timberwolves
vs. Orlando Magic, Oct. 30, 8 p.m.
Milwaukee Bucks
vs. Toronto Raptors, Nov. 2, 8:30 p.m.
New Orleans Pelicans
vs. Indiana Pacers, Oct. 30, 8 p.m.
New York Knicks
vs. Milwaukee Bucks, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Oklahoma City Thunder
vs. Phoenix Suns, Nov. 3, 7 p.m.
Orlando Magic
vs. New Orleans Pelicans, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia 76ers
vs. Miami Heat, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.
Phoenix Suns
vs. Utah Jazz, Nov. 1, 10 p.m.
Portland Trail Blazers
vs. Phoenix Suns, Oct. 30, 10 p.m.
Sacramento Kings
vs. Denver Nuggets, Oct. 30, 10 p.m.
San Antonio Spurs
vs. Memphis Grizzlies, Oct. 30, 8:30 p.m.
Toronto Raptors
vs. Boston Celtics, Oct. 30, 7 p.m.
Utah Jazz
vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Oct. 30, 9 p.m.
Washington Wizards
vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Nov. 1, 7 p.m.
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