:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64915350/1143368490.jpg.0.jpg)
The Philadelphia 76ers have officially released their schedule for the 2019-20 preseason. The Sixers will play five preseason games in total, with three of those at home and two on the road, although one of those road contests will be at a neutral site.
The Sixers’ first preseason contest will be a home game against the Guangzhou Loong-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association on October 8th at 7 pm. The matchup marks the third consecutive NBA preseason game for the Lions, reflecting the NBA’s desire to appeal to a global audience.
After their game against the Lions, the Sixers will head south for their ‘neutral site’ game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 11th at 7:30 pm. The two teams will face off in the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, home of the Wake Forest University men’s basketball team. So while the game is not at a Hornets’ facility, it is basically on their turf. The remaining three games will be against the Orlando Magi (away on 10/13), Detroit Pistons (home on 10/15) and Washington Wizards (home on 10/18).
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/18842509/2019_Preseason_Schedule.jpg)
Each of the Sixers preseason games will be broadcast in audio on 97.5 The Fanatic. Only the three home games are currently slated to be locally aired, with vs. Lions and vs. Wizards on NBC Sports Philadelphia and vs. Pistons on NBC Sports Philadelphia+.
I don’t find any of these opponents particularly exciting. I have very little familiarity with with the CBA and the only player’s name I recognize on Guangzhou is Andrew Nicholson. The Sixers’ preseason opponents from the NBA are mostly average to below-average. But what is very exciting is seeing “10” in each of the month columns from the schedule above and then looking down at my display’s toolbar and seeing an “8” in the month column. We’re so close I can almost taste it.