PISTONS SCHEDULED TO TIP-OFF 2010-11 NBA SEASON ON OCTOBER 27
The Detroit Pistons will open the 2010-11 season on the road at New Jersey on Wednesday, October 27 (7:00 p.m. EST), it was announced today by the National Basketball Association. The Pistons' home opener will be played versus the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, October 29 at The Palace of Auburn Hills (8:00 p.m. EST).
Pistons season tickets and partial season ticket packages are on sale now. Tickets for individual games during the 2010-11 regular season will go on sale at a later date. For information on Pistons' ticket plans, call 248-377-0100 or visit www.pistons.com.
Highlights of the Pistons' home schedule include two home meetings against 2010 NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami HEAT (February 11 and March 23), a single-game match-up with Kobe Bryant and the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers (November 17) and two home meetings with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Shaquille O'Neal and the Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics (November 2 and December 29). Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic make one visit to The Palace (December 3), while former Piston Chauncey Billups will make his only return when the Denver Nuggets visit on January 26. Eastern Conference rival Chicago and newly acquired Carlos Boozer visit The Palace twice (December 26 and April 1) while Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns and Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs each visit once (January 22 and February 8, respectively). The No. 1 pick in this summer's NBA Draft, John Wall, will bring his Washington Wizards team to The Palace on November 21 and March 6, while superstar guard Chris Paul leads the New Orleans Hornets into The Palace for their only visit on December 19.
The Pistons will host central division rival Milwaukee on Friday, November 26 (7:30 p.m.) as part of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and host Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks in a special Martin Luther King Day matinee on January 17 (3:30 p.m.). In addition, the club has moved the game times for all Friday night home games from 8:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with the exception of opening night. The move was made in response to the feedback received from loyal ticketholders and fans.
Detroit begins the season playing seven of their first 11 games on the road and has one five-game homestand from February 11 through February 22, the longest of the season. The homestand starts with the Miami HEAT making their first visit of the season February 11, followed by former rookie of the year Brandon Roy and the Portland Trail Blazers (February 13), Eastern Conference rivals Atlanta (February 14) and Indiana (February 16) and closes with Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets (February 22). The Pistons conclude the season playing four of their last seven games on the road.
"We're excited about the 2010-11 schedule and pleased that our fans can enjoy 25 weekend or holiday home games," said Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars. "Our players and staff are looking forward to training camp in October getting the season started."
The Pistons will make two national television appearances. ESPN will broadcast the Pistons' game at Indiana on Wednesday, March 30 (7:00 p.m.) while NBATV will broadcast Detroit's match-up at Charlotte on Monday, December 27 (7:00 p.m.). The club's local television schedule on FS Detroit will be announced at a later date.
Detroit will play 21 sets of back-to-back games this season. Six of its back-to-back sets fall on the road, eight begin on the road and conclude at home, six are home-and-away back-to-backs and one set is a home-and-home back-to-back. The schedule includes one four-game road trip, the longest of the season.
PNC, one of the nation's largest financial holding companies, is the presenting sponsor for the Detroit Pistons. For more information about PNC, please visit www.pncbank.com.
