Here’s the most anticipated games from the Miami Heat’s 2017-18 schedule

Fewer back-to-backs, tough games against NBA Finals teams and nine nationally televised games headline the Miami Heat’s 2017-18 schedule.

The Miami Heat and the NBA officially released the full 2017-18 schedule on Monday and, unlike last season, it doesn’t feature a highly-anticipated game against a recently-departed Dwyane Wade or rematches against playoff teams. For the Heat, the 2017-18 season is about starting where they left off last season.

Miami finished the 2016-17 season on a 60-win pace, going 30-11 through the final half of the year. While they won’t likely win 60 games, they should be improved from last season. At the very least, they won’t likely stumble out of the gates and dig themselves into an 11-30 hole through the first 41 games.

One way this schedule is different from last season’s is that the league and commissioner Adam Silver made an effort to limit back-to-backs, long road stretches and things like five games in six-or-seven nights. This should make it easier for players to stay rested.

Last week, the NBA announced its nationally televised slate of opening night and Christmas Day games, neither of which feature the Heat.

We’ll take a look at some key dates and games from the 2017-18 schedule, but first some notes:

• The Heat will play on national TV nine times, including four times on ESPN, once on TNT and four times on NBATV. They played 13 games on those networks last season.
• They will play 13 back-to-backs, compared to 15 last season, and 17 the season before that.
• Miami will play five total games against last year’s NBA Finals teams, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. Only two of those games will be at home.
• The longest road trip will be six games, and will occur from Nov. 3 to Nov. 12, and will include a challenging day/nigh back-to-back against the Clippers and Warriors.
• As for holiday games, the Heat will not play on Halloween, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, but will play the Chicago Bulls on Martin Luther King Day.

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Key dates

Start of the season: Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Orlando

Home opener: Monday, Oct. 21, vs Indiana

First national TV appearance: Wednesday, Oct. 25, vs San Antonio

Mexico: The Heat will play Brooklyn in Mexico City on Saturday, Dec. 9.

End of regular season: Wednesday, April 11, vs Toronto

Most anticipated games

Saturday, Oct. 28, vs Boston: Gordon Hayward’s first game in Miami after choosing the Boston Celtics over South Beach. You think the Heat will come out with a chip on their shoulder?

Wednesday, Nov. 1, vs Chicago: It’s always big when Dwyane Wade returns to Miami.

Sunday, Dec. 3, vs Golden State: Miami’s only home game against the defending NBA champions. They’ll play them twice more in Oakland.

Friday, Jan. 5, vs New York (ESPN): A nationally televised show down against the Knicks on a Friday night? Find a great sports bar for this one.

Monday, Jan. 22 vs Houston (NBATV): The Heat will host the Houston Rockets, giving South Florida fans a chance to see James Harden and Chris Paul in person.

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Friday, Feb. 2 vs Philadelphia (ESPN): The NBA’s hottest young team, the Philadelphia 76ers, come to Miami to play on ESPN on a Friday night. A chance for Heat fans to see future stars like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz.

Tuesday, March 27, vs Cleveland (TNT): The Heat will play the Cavaliers three times this season, but just once at home. And they have to wait to greet LeBron James until March.