Chicago Bulls: Taking a look at early 2018-19 schedule highlights

While the full NBA 2018-19 schedule hasn’t been yet been announced, the Chicago Bulls have a few highlighted contests.

The NBA is slowly releasing the 2018-19 schedule and fans are pulling the markers out, getting ready to circle some key matchups. For Chicago Bulls fans, you can go ahead and make Christmas plans, as the Bulls won’t be playing.

However, they will have some highlighted games to look forward to as we await the full schedule release coming later this week.

Opening night in Philadelphia on TNT

Last season, the Bulls had just one nationally televised game, against Tom Thibodeau, Jimmy Butler and the Minnesota Timberwolves. This season, they will have at least one national broadcast, on opening night in Philly.

The Bulls will take on Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 18 on TNT. The matchup will feature the regular season debut of Jabari Parker, Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison in Bulls uniforms. Last season, Chicago won two of three games against Philadelphia.

https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1027253812862640128

Chicago Bulls vs. Orlando Magic from Mexico City

The Bulls will be traveling south of the border to face off against the Orlando Magic in Mexico City on Dec. 13. The two teams will square off in the 22,300-seat La Arena Ciudad de Mexico.

Last season, the Bulls swept the season series 4-0 against the Magic. In the Mexico City contest, the Bulls will be the road team. This season, the Magic will be featuring a young and athletic frontcourt led by Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Mohamed Bamba.

No Christmas Day games for the Chicago Bulls again

Once again, the Bulls won’t be featured on Christmas Day. This is the second straight year they have failed to land a game on the holiday. Chicago has played on Christmas Day a total of 21 times with an overall record of 13-8. The last time they played on Christmas, the Bulls lost to the San Antonio Spurs, 119-100.

Generally, these games are awarded to teams the NBA is expecting to be playoff bound or have elite status. That the Bulls have been passed over once again is not surprising. Teams coming off 55-loss seasons rarely start the following season with much fanfare.

Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

On Jan. 19, 2019, the Bulls will tip-off against the Cleveland Cavaliers to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Bulls will travel to Cleveland to face their now LeBron James-less division foe.

With LeBron, the Cavaliers swept the four-game season series against the Bulls last season. The new-look Cavs will be one of the more intriguing division opponents Chicago will face next season. Led by forward Kevin Love and rookie Collin Sexton, the Cavs will be forging a new identity next year.

Remaining schedule to be released later this week

The Bulls will find out their remaining schedule on Friday. There will be some exciting matchups to look forward to in Chicago.

How will Jabari Parker fare against his former team the Milwaukee Bucks? What will LeBron James look like visiting the United Center as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers? Will the Toronto Raptors have similar success against the Bulls with Kawhi Leonard? Can Chicago play spoiler against the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum?

This season promises to be another exciting one for Chicago Bulls fans and NBA fans in general. Stay tuned for more schedule highlights once the remaining schedule is released later this week.