The Dallas Mavericks set the first half of their 2020-21 schedule

The Dallas Mavericks have announced today their schedule for the 2020-21 NBA season through March 3, with a number of marquee matchups early in a condensed season that kicks off on December 23. Previously announced, the Mavericks will have three preseason tune-ups, two of which will be on the road on December 12 and 14 against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

But the true fireworks will happen as soon as the league says go, with Luka Doncic and the Mavericks hitting the road to face the duos of:

• Chris Paul and Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns in game one
• LeBron James and Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers two days later (a primetime Christmas night matchup)
• Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers two days after that

It was always known there would be little rest, but seeing the schedule actually laid out makes it abundantly clear. The Mavericks first two home games follow the West coast road trip, hosting the Charlotte Hornets on December 30 and the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat on New Year’s Day.

Deeper analysis of the schedule layout is still come but on the surface it looks like the Mavericks will have their hands full early, with a lot of time spent on the road all the way through January. The Mavericks will be aiming to make it to February, where they will have 10 of their 14 games at home that month.

One final note, it’s clear the Mavericks have taken the giant leap toward relevancy this season and the league has rewarded them. It’s been a while since MFFL’s could look at the schedule announcement and see 16 of the first 37 games being broadcast nationally, a sign of how important the league sees Doncic and this new Dallas Mavericks team.