Seven can't-miss New Orleans Pelicans home games in 2024-25

It may not have been as challenging as trying to stop Zion Williamson from driving to the rim. It probably wasn’t as difficult as attempting to sink a three-point shot over Herb Jones. Still, picking seven “can’t-miss” New Orleans home games from the 2024-25 regular season schedule was no easy task. Virtually all of the other 14 Western Conference squads are poised to contend for the playoffs this season, while the East is arguably deeper and more competitive than it’s been over the past decade.

There will be no shortage of fun-filled evenings in the Smoothie King Center beginning in October, including seven All-Star players from 2024 coming to the Crescent City prior to Thanksgiving. The following list includes all three of the NBA’s biggest road-team draws from 2023-24 (as measured by average attendance at away games), a trio (Boston, Golden State, Lakers) that accounted for five of the league’s All-Stars in February.

Wednesday, Oct. 23, Chicago Bulls, 7 p.m.

The 2024-25 opener for New Orleans will be the first time that the Pelicans tip off a regular season in the Smoothie King Center since 2021 (and only the second time since 2016). A retooled Chicago squad will provide the opposition, with New Orleans attempting to exact some payback after going 0-2 vs. the Bulls last season. Chicago was one of just three East teams that the Pelicans did not defeat at least once (reigning NBA champion Boston and playoff qualifier Orlando were the others).

Saturday, Nov. 16, Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m.

The Blender is always at full capacity and ready to deliver a friendly welcome to Lakers headliners LeBron James and Anthony Davis when they make a visit to the Crescent City. New Los Angeles head coach JJ Redick also has some past history with the Pelicans and their fan base. This mid-November weekend features a marquee home/home back-to-back, with Denver coming to Louisiana 24 hours earlier on Nov. 15. This marks LA’s lone scheduled stop in New Orleans.

Friday, Nov. 22, Golden State Warriors, 7 p.m.

The Warriors won the 2022 NBA championship, but missed the playoffs in 2024 after losing to Sacramento in the West play-in tournament. At 46-36, Golden State still was the league’s second-best road draw (18,720 fans per away game), with guard and all-time great perimeter shooter Steph Curry remaining one the sport’s most popular and effective players. The Warriors only visited NOLA once in 2023-24, going 1-2 overall against the Pelicans.

MARQUEE MATCHUPS TICKET GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the reveal of the Pelicans 24-25 schedule, we're giving one lucky fan the chance to win 2 lower level tickets to 7 of the hottest matchups of the season. Games include the home opener (Oct. 23), battles vs. the Lakers (Nov. 16), Warriors (Nov. 22) and Celtics (Jan. 31), plus 3 more exciting showdowns. Sweepstakes ends August 31 @ 11:59pm CT.

Sunday, Dec. 22, Denver Nuggets, 6 p.m.

Denver and three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic will previously visit the Smoothie King Center during NBA Cup pool play (Nov. 15) for a second consecutive year, but this marks the Pelicans’ final game prior to a multi-day Christmas break. It’s also part of a five-game New Orleans holiday homestand that includes several key West and Southwest Division rivals. The Nuggets have averaged 55.0 victories over the past two seasons.

Wednesday, Jan. 15, Dallas Mavericks, 7 p.m.

Despite entering the 2024 playoffs as a No. 5 seed in the West without homecourt advantage in any series, Dallas reached the NBA Finals, knocking off the higher-ranked Clippers, Oklahoma City and Minnesota along the way. The Mavericks are led by Luka Doncic – who’s posted some of the best performances of his six-year career in the Blender – and fellow starting guard Kyrie Irving. Dallas also comes to NOLA on Jan. 29.

Friday, Jan. 31, Boston Celtics, 7 p.m.

Boston captured the 2024 NBA championship, earning the title for the first time since 2008. The Celtics’ annual visit to the Gulf South is consistently a tough ticket, with fans clamoring to get the opportunity to see Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Boston’s run to an 18th banner was also spearheaded by USA Olympic gold medalists Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, the latter a Crescent City fan favorite.

Sunday, March 9, Memphis Grizzlies, 6 p.m.

Although the final scoreboard outcomes were painful for the home team, a pair of December games in New Orleans last season between the Pelicans and Grizzlies were among the wildest, most dramatic of the season, with Ja Morant-led Memphis prevailing by two- and one-point margins – the latter in overtime. This early-March battle represents the only New Orleans home game scheduled to be broadcast nationally by ESPN in 2024-25.