It’s official. On July 30, the NBA will snap its almost four-month hiatus with a doubleheader featuring a Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans match-up and a highlight duel between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

These two battles will spark the season restart, which will see 22 teams competing in a ‘bubble’ quarantine environment at the Disney campus near Orlando, Florida.

NBA Sets Up ‘Seeding Games’

The new NBA schedule dropped on Friday, with 88 ‘seeding games’ scheduled to run from July 30 to August 14.

Notably, there will be three instances wherein seven games will be played in a single day, with some game days tipping off as early as 12:30 p.m. ET. and playing on through the evening.

Each team will also experience suiting up for one back-to-back set.

Following the ‘seeding’ matches, the first round of the NBA Playoffs is slated to kick off on August 17.

Lakers Resume NBA Title-Chase

After ESPN reported that Rudy Gobert’s positive COVID-19 test result led to the season’s suspension in March, the 7’1” center will reportedly lead the Jazz in its re-opening match against the Pelicans.

However, the main event for July 30’s opening night will be the battle between the West’s top two teams. The Lakers will continue its title-chasing bid, while the Clippers will attempt to catch up to their neighbors’ 5.5 game-lead in the Conference.

NBA Season Still Hanging in the Balance

Despite league officials and teams signing off on the league’s official return to action though, NBA commissioner Adam Silver told the Houston Chronicles that the commission is still mostly on a wait-and-see mode.

For one, Silver cautions that a sudden outbreak in Central Florida might still upend the rest of the season.
“If we were to have significant spread of coronavirus throughout our community, that ultimately would lead us to stop it,” the commissioner told reporters in a virtual press conference. “But we’re working closely with the Players’ Association, with Disney, and with public health officials in Florida as to what the line should be. [So far,] it hasn’t been precisely designed.”