Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking 5 games to circle on 2021-22 schedule

Game 1 — Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets, October 19, 2021

To their credit, the schedule makers could not have picked a better game to begin the season than the Bucks and Brooklyn Nets on opening night.

These two juggernauts battled it out for seven games during the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year, with the Bucks coming out on top in the very end after a Game 7 overtime thriller. It was one of the best postseason matchups in recent memory, and the two franchises will meet again straight away. Of course, the Bucks will also be receiving their championship rings and hoist their title banner before this game, which should only heighten things. After the Nets believed they were primed to be in that position last year, they will certainly be looking to spoil this special night.

Hopefully they will be at full strength this time around, as one of the most prominent storylines for the Nets last season was how they were scarcely ever healthy. When Brooklyn is at full strength, they are undeniably a formidable foe. They have assembled non-arguably one of the most star-studded trios in league history with Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, a group that played less than a minute together against Milwaukee in the postseason. Those three will be gunning for the title once again this coming season and will aim to set the tone with this opening night matchup.

Durant and Antetokounmpo going head to head is must-see, as they are two of the best players in the game today, both rising to the occasion in that seven-game series. In addition to that, the animosity between Antetokounmpo and Harden is always something recycled when the two former MVPs meet up, and it will rise once again on this opening night. There will be storylines galore in this matchup, which should have fans glued to their seats in anticipation.

Be sure to catch the opening night game at 6:30 p.m. CST on TNT.