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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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 12: Klay Thompson /

1. Warriors at Cavaliers — Jan. 15

Given the epic rivalry between these teams over the past three seasons and NBA Finals, choosing the other one of their head-to-head matchups was a no-brainer. The storylines between these teams are so numerous and well documented that any self-respecting NBA fan would find it difficult not to try to tune in.

For Golden State, this contest comes amid a January stretch of games that features eight of 10 games on the road. Although there are only two sets of back-to-backs for the Warriors over this period, their road games include matchups against the Rockets, Bucks, Raptors and Clippers. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are just returning home after a five-game road trip and a stretch of eight of their previous nine games being played away from Quicken Loans Arena. This Martin Luther King Day tilt comes exactly three weeks after the duo’s previous matchup, allowing the loser of the first the final opportunity for revenge during the regular season.

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New Cavaliers backup point guard Derrick Rose should be given a chance to take the bulk of Deron Williams’ minutes. Williams, who joined the Cavaliers at last season’s All-Star break via a trade from Dallas, struggled mightily in the Finals against the Warriors. The three-time All-Star whose game has seen better days did not hit his first shot of the Finals until Game 4. For the series, he scored a total of five points in 61 minutes, recording just six assists and five turnovers. Rose is also not the player he once was, but he is coming off his most efficient season since 2011-12.

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