January 31: Washington Wizards vs. Brooklyn Nets
The Wizards might have high expectations this season as they look to end a two-season playoff drought, but no single team is entering the 2020-21 season with higher expectations — or more pressure — than the Brooklyn Nets. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are the only duo more exciting than Beal and Westbrook making its Eastern Conference debut this season.
Although Irving and Durant were both with the Nets last season, they never shared the court. Durant missed the entire season to rehab his Achilles. Irving missed most of the season with a right shoulder injury, and he eventually got surgery in March. Both Brooklyn and Washington will have some gelling to do as they figure things out with two superstars on the court together for the first time, but by January 31, many of the kinks should be ironed out.
This will be one of the toughest tests for the Wizards in the first half of the season. To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. The Nets haven’t proven they are the best team in the East, yet, but with Irving, Durant, and a supporting cast that includes Spencer Dinwiddie, Cars LeVert, Joe Harris, and Jarett Allen, there’s arguably no team in the East entering the season with more talent on their roster than the Nets.
Last season, the Wizards went 2-1 vs. the Nets. Irving played in only one of those three games, but the Wizards won anyway.