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The NBA preseason is just days. After a two-month offseason, the fans will finally get a chance to see their favourite teams in action the NBA.
The preseason will start with a blockbuster encounter between the LA Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets on October 3.
Many more exciting matchups are scheduled in the 66-game preseason schedule. The preseason is the perfect opportunity for all rosters to come into the groove ahead of the regular season. Many new and exciting youngsters will be tested by trams ahead of the regular season.
Ahead of the upcoming preseason, here's a look at five exciting matchups in the 2021-22 NBA preseason:
#5 LA Clippers vs Dallas Mavericks [October 8, 2021]
The Los Angeles Clippers will fly to Dallas to face the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center on Friday, October 8. The matchup is scheduled to start at 8:30 PM ET. It will be a repeat of the first-round battle between the two teams during the 2021 playoffs, where the Clippers prevailed 4-3.
Coming into the 2021-22 season, the Clippers will be competing without their superstar player, Kawhi Leonard. Although there are positive signs in his recovery, he is inevitably going to miss a large chunk of the season.
That means Paul George will have to take the responsibility of leading the Clippers. Meanwhile, for the Mavs, it is going to be a very interesting preseason campaign, as they will be playing under their new coach Jason Kidd for the first time.
The Clippers have had the last laugh in this clash many times in the past. However, the Mavs did prove last year that they have all the tools to defeat the Clippers, when they took a 2-0 lead in the first round.
They will be looking to win this preseason game, and go into their regular-season campaign high on confidence. However, the resilience of the Clippers means they'll look to continue their good form against the Mavs.
#4 LA Lakers vs Golden State Warriors [Friday, October 8]
In their first preseason game of the 2021-22 NBA season, the LA Lakers will lock horns with the Golden State Warriors on Friday, October 8, at the Chase Center. The matchup is scheduled to start at 10:00 PM ET. This fixture will be the first game of the NBA regular season, with the two teams to face off on October 19 to start their respective campaigns.
The Lakers made some big moves in the offseason, recruiting stars like Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard to their roster. That has made them the favourites to win the championship. However, they will be competing against a tough team, the Golden State Warriors, in the preseason. After a disappointing campaign, the Warriors will be looking to bounce back and make a strong statement during the 2021-22 season.
Warriors' ace shooting guard Klay Thompson is finally back in action, and will play for the team for the first time in two years. Although it will take some time for him to get back to match fitness, the news of him coming back is definitely big news for the team.
The two teams will be very careful in choosing the lineup for this preseason game, as they would not want any casualties before the start of the season.
#3 LA Lakers vs Phoenix Suns [Wednesday, October 6]
The LA Lakers will face off against the Phoenix Suns in a preseason encounter on Wednesday, October 6. This matchup is scheduled to start at 10 PM ET, and is touted to be an exciting one. The two teams last played each other in the first round of the 2020-21 Western Conference Playoffs.
The Phoenix Suns got the better of the Lakers during the playoffs. However, the Purple and Gold are a much-changed side since that defeat. They had a stellar offseason, adding a lot of firepower to the team. After their busy offseason, the Lakers will hope to make things even by getting the better of the Suns in this preseason game.
However, the Suns will not be easy to defeat. They have players like Devin Booker and Chris Paul who are capable of doing a lot of damage to any defense in the league. Fans will have the opportunity to see the two teams face off in two preseason games.
#2 Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets [Friday, October 8]
The Milwaukee Bucks will face off against the Brooklyn Nets in a preseason encounter on October 8. This matchup is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM ET, and is a guaranteed thriller. This will be a repeat of the Eastern Conference semifinals from the 2021 playoffs, where the Bucks defeated the Nets 4-3 to advance to the Conference Finals.
Injuries hampered the Nets' chances in that series. So they will look to keep past disappointments aside when they face the Bucks this time. The encounter between the two teams will be one of the games to watch out for this preseason. The two teams are likely to meet in the later stages of the playoffs next year, too.
Meanwhile, the Bucks are coming into the new season as the defending champions. They will hope to repeat their exploits in the 2021-22 season as well. They are high on confidence, and will hope to perform well against the Nets. This preseason game should definitely reignite the rivalry between the two teams from last season.
It has all the ingredients to be one of the best games of the 2021-22 preseason.
#1 Brooklyn Nets vs LA Lakers [Sunday, October 3]
The Brooklyn Nets will compete against the LA Lakers in the first encounter of the 2021-22 NBA preseason. This matchup is scheduled for Sunday, October 3 at 3:30 PM ET. Both teams have the strongest rosters in the NBA, and are the favourites to win the coveted NBA championship.
The Brooklyn Nets boast the strongest offensive trio in the league. Meanwhile, the Lakers have superstar players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard on their roster. This preseason game should be a jaw-dropping battle, as many have touted the two teams to compete against each other in the NBA Finals too.
According to rumors, the Lakers will not have the services of Russell Westbrook and LeBron James for this game. However, they still have a lot of talent in the team to get the better of the Nets. This will also be the perfect opportunity for the Lakers' bench to prove their worth and get the necessary minutes ahead of the regular season.
The Nets still have no clarity on Irving's vaccine situation. However, veterans like Patty Mills and Paul Millsap will look to grab this opportunity with open hands and prove their abilities. This has been one of the most anticipated preseason battles, and will definitely be watched by millions of basketball fans around the world.
Guess the Lakers players!
