The Milwaukee Bucks' season is getting closer.

The NBA announced its 2024-25 season schedule Thursday, with the Bucks opening on Oct. 23 at the Philadelphia 76ers. Milwaukee's first game at Fiserv Forum will be against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 25.

The regular season ends on April 13 with a matinee game at Fiserv Forum against the Detroit Pistons.

Here are some interesting notes about Milwaukee's schedule:

What is longest home stand for the Bucks?

The Bucks have two four-game home stands. The first one comes from Nov. 18-23 (vs. Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets.

The other home stretch comes Jan. 14-19 (Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers)

What is the longest road trip?

The Bucks play five straight games away from home March 18-26 (at Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Kings, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets).

When will the Bucks be on national TV?

The Bucks play 26 games on national TV, with 17 on ABC, ESPN and TNT and nine more NBA TV. They had 28 nationally televised games last season.

Here are the games in which the Bucks will appear on national outlets:

Oct. 23 at Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN), 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 28 at Boston Celtics (NBA TV), 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 4 at Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA TV), 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 18 vs. Houston Rockets (NBA TV), 7 p.m.

Nov. 20 vs. Chicago Bulls (ESPN), 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 22 vs. Indiana Pacers (ESPN), 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 26 at Miami Heat (TNT), 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 6 at Boston Celtics (ESPN), 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 20 at Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA TV), 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 vs. San Antonio Spurs (ESPN), 8:30 p.m.

Jan. 23 vs. Miami Heat (TNT), 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 at Portland Trail Blazers (TNT), 9 p.m.

Feb. 2 vs. Memphis Grizzlies (ESPN), 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 9 at Philadelphia 76ers (ABC), 1 p.m.

Feb. 10 vs. Golden State Warriors (NBA TV), 7 p.m.

Feb. 23 vs. Miami Heat (ESPN), 6 p.m.

Feb. 27 vs. Denver Nuggets (TNT), 6:30 p.m.

March 5 vs. Dallas Mavericks (ESPN), 8:30 p.m.

March 11 at Indiana Pacers (TNT), 6 p.m.

March 13 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (TNT), 6:30 p.m.

March 16 vs. Oklahoma City (ESPN), 8 p.m.

March 18 at Los Angeles Lakers (NBA TV), 9:30 p.m.

March 20 at Golden State Warriors (NBA TV), 9:30 p.m.

March 22 at Sacramento Kings (NBA TV), 9 p.m.

March 24 at Phoenix Suns (NBA TV), 9 p.m.

April 3 at Philadelphia 76ers (TNT), 6:30 p.m.

How many back-to-backs will the Bucks play?

The Bucks will play consecutive games 14 times, the same amount they had last season. There is a busy stretch in late January at home against the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic (Jan. 14 and 15), then another back-to-back at the New Orleans Pelicans and home against the Miami Heat (Jan. 22-23). As part of a Western Conference road trip, the Bucks play at Utah on Jan. 27 followed by a game at Portland Jan. 28.

Bucks will not play on Christmas Day

Some matchups leaked out before the full schedule was released.

The Bucks were not part of the marquee slate of games on Christmas Day like they have been the last six seasons. That exclusion prompted some confusion from Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks' opener at Philadelphia on Oct. 23 was reported earlier this week by The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Milwaukee's games in group play of the Emirates NBA Cup - the re-branded in-season tournament - were also released earlier this week.

Other marquee matchups

Milwaukee doesn't have to wait long until seeing the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics. The Eastern Conference powers will square off in the first week of the season on Oct. 28 at TD Garden in Boston. They play again at Fiserv Forum on Nov. 10.

Interestingly, the Bucks' two games against the Dallas Mavericks, who made the NBA Finals last season, come on the road on March 1 and at home on March 5, with a trip to Atlanta to play the Hawks sandwiched in between.

The Bucks' games against the Lakers – always an anticipated matchup – are also bunched together. They will play in Milwaukee on March 13 and in Los Angeles on March 18.

The Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season. The teams first square off on Nov. 22 at Fiserv Forum, with that game part of Emirates NBA Cup group play.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks schedule released for 2024-25 NBA season