The NBA recently announced the Portland Trail Blazers’ schedule for the 2024-25 season. Their first regular-season game kicks off at home against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, October 23. While the Blazers don’t have playoff aspirations entering next season as a team coming off a 21-win season and finishing last in the Western Conference, it’s still a significant year for them in terms of player development and the trajectory of their rebuild.
These five home games at Moda Center stand out on the schedule as intriguing matchups to watch, whether for superstar talent, key storylines, or a combination of the two.
Note: All times are Pacific
1. Dallas Mavericks
Saturday, December 28
7:00 p.m.
The reigning Western Conference champions visit Moda Center on the last Saturday in 2024. Luka Doncic could be in store for his first MVP season at 25 years old. He also has one of the most electrifying co-stars in the NBA, Kyrie Irving. Those two superstars alone make this an intriguing matchup. It will be a good test for the Blazers’ up-and-coming backcourt players, Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Anfernee Simons, to see how they match up with arguably the best backcourt in the association. Dallas also has vital and entertaining role players, including complementary lob threat Dereck Lively II and newly acquired sharpshooting veteran Klay Thomspon, making this a must-watch game.
2. Philadelphia 76ers
Monday, December 30
7:00 p.m.
Provided they stay healthy, the Philadelphia 76ers have a legitimate case to make as the second-best team in the Eastern Conference behind the defending champion Boston Celtics entering next season. Depth remains a question for Philadelphia, but Paul George was the league’s most significant offseason acquisition. It’s always interesting to see how new-look teams mesh together, especially when they have a trio like George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, who possess this much star power. The Blazers will have their work cut out for them in this matchup, but having four centers worthy of getting minutes could bode well for them in terms of slowing down Embiid by throwing numerous defenders at him to give him different looks.
3. Milwaukee Bucks
Tuesday, January 28
7:00 p.m.
TNT
Damian Lillard’s return to Portland is the most obvious game for Blazers fans to circle on the 2024-25 schedule. The Blazers have four nationally televised games this upcoming season, and only one of them is on either ESPN or TNT, which is this January 28 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. It’s been over a year since Lillard’s league-altering trade request and the blockbuster three-team trade with the Bucks and Suns. But it seems much more recent for Blazers fans, given Lillard’s impact on the franchise.
Because the Blazers likely have no significant games in terms of a matchup that could decide whether or not they make the playoffs next season, Lillard’s return to Portland could be the biggest must-watch game of the season for Blazers fans.
4. San Antonio Spurs
Sunday, April 6
3:00 p.m.
The San Antonio Spurs, headlined by Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama, should be a much-improved team next season with internal improvements and the additions of veteran Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes. Wemby is looking to be a generational talent who could become an All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year in only his second season.
Blazers fans should take advantage of the opportunity to see the 7-foot-4 “Alien” in person. The bad news is that Wemby is only 20 years old, so the Spurs will be a team that the Blazers will likely have to go through come playoff time when their young core enters its prime together. This matchup will be an excellent test for the Blazers to see how their rising stars stack up.
5. Los Angeles Lakers
Sunday, April 13
12:30 p.m.
April 13 marks the last game on the Blazers’ regular season schedule (both home and away). Admittedly, Portland could be benching many established players at this point in the season if they have any incentive to lose this game against the Lakers to secure better draft lottery odds, especially since the 2025 NBA Draft, headlined by Duke’s Cooper Flagg, projects to be such a strong class. Even if this is the case, the Blazers have a ton of fun, young talent to watch that would make this an entertaining game regardless.
Most importantly, Lakers superstar LeBron James will be 40 years old when these two teams face off in Portland. This summer, he still looked in tremendous shape, leading Team USA as “Captain LeMerica” in the Paris 2024 Olympics. He also recently signed a two-year extension with the Lakers. But it’s worth noting that he has a player option at the end of next season. No signs indicate this will be James’ last season, but the NBA is an ever-evolving league, and things could change by the end of the season.
