The Week Ahead: Washington Opens the Real Thing

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 17

Milwaukee's exhibition slate ended Friday at Indiana, and the calendar now turns to games that count. Four roster moves in one morning reshaped the fringes just as the schedule tightens into three games in four days.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Milwaukee finished 32-50 last season, with a net rating of minus-6.1 that sat 25th in the league at a pace of 98.3. That finish is the backdrop for everything built since — a retooled roster and a new coach, Taylor Jenkins, now steering a schedule that turns from exhibitions into games that count toward a return to the postseason.

October 17

Milwaukee requested waivers on Pete Nance, Johni Broome and Jake Stephens, the same day Marcus Garrett joined the roster. The moves trim a group that had swelled well past the regular-season limit during camp. Payroll sits at $191.4 million, over the salary cap but under the $200.4 million luxury-tax threshold, with Tyler Herro's $33.0 million the largest single number on the books.

October 21

Milwaukee opens the regular season on the road at Washington, the first real answer for a roster remade over the summer — no exhibition safety net, a game that counts in the standings. Nate Ament, sidelined by a left ankle issue, and Jericho Sims, out with an undisclosed issue, both carry an estimated return of that same date, putting each in line to be available for the opener itself.

October 23

Two days after the opener, Milwaukee is home against Chicago, the second game of a stretch that leaves no room to settle in. The Bulls beat Milwaukee 125-104 in the preseason on October 14, a result the regular-season meeting will measure against now that the games count toward the standings instead of the roster.

October 24

The back-to-back closes the next night at Philadelphia, on NBA TV, Milwaukee's only nationally televised game of the stretch. Two road trips bracket one home date in four days — Washington, then home for Chicago, then back out for the 76ers — a quick test of depth before the schedule settles into a more normal rhythm.

Next The next date that matters is October 21, when Milwaukee opens the regular season on the road at Washington.

When does the regular season start for the Bucks?

Milwaukee opens on the road at Washington on October 21.

Do the Bucks play a back-to-back in the season's opening week?

Yes — a home game against Chicago on October 23 is followed by a road game at Philadelphia on October 24.

By the Bucks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.