NBA Schedule 2017-18: 5 best games of the season

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 2: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball against Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 2016 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photos by Chris Covatta/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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With the 2017-18 NBA schedule released, now is the perfect time to start dreaming about viewing the five best games of the season.

So many exciting matchups have been scheduled for the upcoming season. We took the liberty of selecting the five most intriguing.

5. Spurs at Thunder — March 10

By March 10, fans will have a much greater understanding of what to expect from the new-look Oklahoma City Thunder. With Russell Westbrook and Paul George potentially only in town for the 2017-18 season, the Thunder’s margin for error has grown incredibly thin. The franchise’s expected win-at-all-costs approach coupled with the immense talent at the top (namely, Westbrook and George) should translate into an exciting brand of basketball.

Meanwhile, by this point in the season, Tony Parker will likely have returned to the Spurs’ lineup. At 35-years-old and returning from major injury, Parker is certainly no longer the player he used to be. Star forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, on the other hand, at 26- and 27-years-old, respectively, are two of the league’s best two-way players and in the prime of their careers. In last season’s head-to-head matchup between the players, George averaged 24.5 points per game but was limited to less than 40 percent shooting. On March 1, the Spurs beat the Pacers by a single point, 100-99. George, who hit just 5-of-18 shots and missed the potential game-winning 3 with time expiring, was thoroughly outplayed by Leonard. The San Diego State product finished with 31 points and 11 rebounds and nailed the game-winner, a 16-footer with two seconds remaining.

Despite the incessant and well-deserved attention garnered by the Warriors, it should not be forgotten that the Spurs were the only other team to win 60-plus games last season. Well coached and never past their prime no matter what the pundits like to predict, the Spurs are likely to compete for a high seed out West yet again.

Next: 4. Cavaliers at Warriors -- Dec. 25

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