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The Portland Trail Blazers' 2014-15 schedule is going to get really nasty, really quick.
Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman has tipped the opening night opponent for the Portland Trail Blazers as the season commences. In an article detailing the Oklahoma City Thunder schedule (found via Erik Gundersen of the Columbian's Blazers Banter Blog) Mayberry reveals that Kevin Durant and company will spend opening night in Portland. The October 29th matchup will pit increasingly-fierce division rivals against each other:
The Thunder will open the season at Portland on Oct. 29, a Northwest Division matchup that offered the makings of a rivalry last season when Kevin Durant admitted to reporters that the two teams don't like each other. The Trail Blazers went 54-28 last season and finished second in the division, five games behind the Thunder.
The official unveiling of the schedule is slated for 3:00 p.m. Pacific this afternoon. Blazer's Edge will be on top of the announcement for you.
Update: Matt Moore of CBS Sports tabs the Blazers and Mavericks playing in the season closer:
If the Blazers and Mavs are fighting for seeding, closer could be huge. They play each other in season finale.
— Matt Moore CBS (@MattMooreCBS) August 13, 2014
We now know the first and last game on the schedule. We're just waiting for the 80 in between.
Hat tip to BlazetheTrail for finding the reference.
--Dave blazersub@gmail.com / @DaveDeckard