Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — For the last 30 years, the Utah Jazz have had an arena to themselves. Not anymore.
That has certainly seemed to alter some things when it comes to the schedule.
The Jazz released the 2024-25 schedule on Thursday — their first game will be at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 23 — and it looks a bit different than in years past.
One example, the Jazz have the unlikely chance of not having a home game between Dec. 2 and Dec. 28. Right now, there isn't one scheduled, but there will be two games added between Dec. 10-16 — one home, one away — for teams who miss the NBA Cup playoffs.
So if the Jazz make the knockout stage, they'll have a three-week break away from the Delta Center.
Another oddity: The Jazz also have a seven-game home stand coming out of the All-Star break.
But when looking at the rest of the schedule, those aren't necessarily outliers. Long road trips and home stands may just be the Jazz's new normal — at least it is in 2024-25.
The Jazz will have nine road trips of three or more games, including five that are four or more. On the flip side, Utah will have five home stands of four or more games.
Some months (November and December) are very road heavy, and some months (February) where Utah will hardly leave Salt Lake City at all.
Utah has an eight-game home stretch (with the All-Star break in between the first and second games) in February, and a six-game home stand in March.
The NHL could have also played a factor in Utah getting four Sunday home games. The team has traditionally requested not to play home contests on that day (though, that changed last season).
Here is the full schedule: pic.twitter.com/tZo7zAspPl
— Ryan Miller (@millerjryan) August 15, 2024
NBA cup
The Jazz are in a stacked group for the second NBA Cup (thankfully rebranded from the "In-Season Tournament"). Utah will go up against Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama to try and get a spot in Las Vegas.
Suffice it to say, the Jazz will be pretty big underdogs to get out of group play.
- Nov. 12 — vs. Phoenix Suns
- Nov. 19 — @ Los Angeles Lakers
- Nov. 26 — vs. San Antonio Spurs
- Dec. 3 — @ Oklahoma City Thunder
National TV games
While TV schedules can change, the Jazz will enter the season with two true national games.
Utah's home game against Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley's Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 30 will be on TNT. That game may be the final time the Jazz play on TNT, which will be in the final year of its contract with the NBA, for the foreseeable future.
Utah's Feb. 7 game in Phoenix will be on ESPN.
Other notes:
- The Jazz will have 15 back-to-back sets.
- Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers will come to Utah on March 23 (Mitchell missed last season's game at the Delta Center).
- Quin Snyder's Atlanta Hawks will be in Utah on Jan. 7.
- The NBA champion Boston Celtics will play at the Delta Center March 21.
- The Jazz will play on Halloween, New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
