Here is the Bulls' schedule for the first 37 games originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The roster is largely returned. The front office and coaching staff are both amply shaken up. And a pivotal Bulls season officially tips off Dec. 23.
Here’s what the first half of their 2020-21 schedule looks like, as released by the NBA Friday afternoon:
| Day | Date | Opponent | Time (CT) | TV Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed. | 23-Dec-20 | Atlanta | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Sat. | 26-Dec-20 | Indiana | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Sun. | 27-Dec-20 | Golden State | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Tue. | 29-Dec-20 | at Washington | 6:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Thu. | 31-Dec-20 | at Washington | 6:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Fri. | 1-Jan-21 | at Milwaukee | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Sun. | 3-Jan-21 | Dallas | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Tue. | 5-Jan-21 | at Portland | 9:30 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Wed. | 6-Jan-21 | at Sacramento | 9:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Fri. | 8-Jan-21 | at L.A. Lakers | 9:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Sun. | 10-Jan-21 | at L.A. Clippers | 3:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Tue. | 12-Jan-21 | Boston | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Fri. | 15-Jan-21 | at Oklahoma City | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Sun. | 17-Jan-21 | at Dallas | 2:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Mon. | 18-Jan-21 | Houston | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Fri. | 22-Jan-21 | at Charlotte | 6:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Sat. | 23-Jan-21 | L.A. Lakers | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Mon. | 25-Jan-21 | Boston | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Wed. | 27-Jan-21 | at Memphis | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Sat. | 30-Jan-21 | Portland | 4:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Mon. | 1-Feb-21 | New York | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Wed. | 3-Feb-21 | New York | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Fri. | 5-Feb-21 | at Orlando | 6:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Sat. | 6-Feb-21 | at Orlando | 6:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Mon. | 8-Feb-21 | Washington | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Wed. | 10-Feb-21 | New Orleans | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Fri. | 12-Feb-21 | L.A. Clippers | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Mon. | 15-Feb-21 | at Indiana | 6:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Wed. | 17-Feb-21 | at Charlotte | 6:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Fri. | 19-Feb-21 | at Philadelphia | 6:00 PM | ESPN |
| Sat. | 20-Feb-21 | Sacramento | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Mon. | 22-Feb-21 | at Houston | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Wed. | 24-Feb-21 | Minnesota | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Fri. | 26-Feb-21 | Phoenix | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Sun. | 28-Feb-21 | at Toronto* | 5:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Mon. | 1-Mar-21 | Denver | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
| Wed. | 3-Mar-21 | at New Orleans | 7:00 PM | NBC Sports Chicago |
*NOTE: The Toronto Raptors will play home games in Amalie Arena in Tampa during the first half of the season.
In a nod to the global pandemic that has necessitated shortening of each of its past two seasons, the NBA said it will release the second half of the schedule “during the latter part of the first half portion of the schedule” to accommodate the possibility for postponements and subsequent rescheduling.
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As of this writing, the first half of the regular season is set to run from Dec. 22 to March 4. Then, a five-day All-Star break to follow before beginning the second half, which runs from March 11 to May 16.
The Bulls’ initial 37-game slate also features back-to-back matchups and strategically-scheduled road swings in an effort to expedite the teams’ travel calendars. COVID-19 will underscore all.
If all goes according to the league’s plan, each team will play 72 regular season games -- three against each member of their conference, and two against each member of the opposing conference. Then, with the top six seeds from each conference locked in as playoff teams, Nos. 7 - 10 in each conference will complete a play-in tournament from May 18 to May 21 to decide the seventh and eighth seeds. The playoffs are currently slated to begin May 22, 2021 and conclude -- at the latest -- on July 22.
But that’s a long way away. The individual workout phase of training camps began across the NBA on Tuesday. Group workouts start Sunday. The Bulls begin their four-game preseason slate on Dec. 11 against the Houston Rockets at the United Center, which will not host fans to start the campaign. Their first regular season game will also come at home against the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 23.
The Bulls ended the 2019-20 season 22-43 and were left uninvited from the 22-team Orlando restart, yielding their third consecutive playoff absence.
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