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The New Orleans Pelicans have a new name and a new look. Now comes the test.

Just a few days after the Pelicans unveiled their new logo and uniforms, the NBA released its 2013-14 season schedule Tuesday. And the road to the playoffs will be as difficult as ever for the rebuilding Pelicans.

They get to show off their new look with the additions of Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday to open the season against Indiana on Oct. 30 at New Orleans Arena.

The Pelicans host the Los Angeles Lakers, who could be without star Kobe Bryant as he rehabs an Achilles' tendon injury, on Nov. 8. That game is sandwiched between four road trips against Southwest Division foe Memphis, Phoenix, the Lakers and Utah.

Later in November the Pelicans travel to face division opponent and Western Conference champion San Antonio shortly before a short three-game road swing through Philadelphia, New York and Chicago that starts at the end of the month.

But that is just the beginning of what is sure to be a difficult December, which includes a five-game road swing at Denver, Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland and Sacramento.

Then the Pelicans on get a couple home games before they start 2014 on the road against Minnesota, Boston, Indiana and defending champion Miami.

Later in January, the Pelicans have an intriguing three-game homestand in which Tim Duncan and the Spurs come to New Orleans Arena followed Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets and then Golden State.

In February there are a series of home games that should be interesting, starting with Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls coming to town Feb. 1, then Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks come into New Orleans Arena on Feb. 19, and Doc Rivers brings the Clippers and Chris Paul to New Orleans to face his son Austin Rivers on Feb. 24.

The Pelicans end February and begin March (Mardi Gras is March 4) in the midst of a tough, five-game road stretch that will see them face Southwest-rival Dallas along with Phoenix, the Clippers, Sacramento and the Lakers.

The Heat and LeBron James make their only regular-season appearance in New Orleans on March 22.

The Pelicans, who are expected to challenge for a playoff seed, will certainly have their work cut out for them with a difficult ending to the season. They play five of their final eight games on the road in April with games against teams they will likely be contending with for a playoff spot: Denver, Utah and Portland.

The Pelicans end the regular-season with back-to-back home games against Oklahoma City and Houston.

The Pelicans are coming off a disappointing 27-55 campaign for the 2012-13 season. But expectation and optimism are high as last year’s No.1 overall draft pick Anthony Davis enters his second season and shooting guard Eric Gordon appears to be healthy.

General manager Dell Demps pulled off a couple of intriguing offseason moves with the acquisitions of Evans and Holiday to strengthen the backcourt and give head coach Monty Williams a realistic shot at his second playoff appearance.

Team Schedule for the New Orleans Pelicans

(all times local)
DATE, OPPONENT, TIME

October
Wed. 30, vs. Indiana, 7 p.m.

November

Fri. 1, AT Orlando, 7 p.m.

Sat. 2, vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Tue. 5, vs. Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Wed. 6, AT Memphis, 7 p.m.

Fri. 8, vs. L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m.

Sun. 10, AT Phoenix, 6 p.m.

Tue. 12, AT L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.

Wed. 13, AT Utah, 7 p.m.

Sat. 16, vs. Philadelphia, 8 p.m.

Wed. 20, vs. Utah, 7 p.m.

Fri. 22, vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Mon. 25, AT San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Tue. 26, vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.

Fri. 29, AT Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

December

Sun. 1, AT New York, 7:30 p.m.

Mon. 2, AT Chicago, 7 p.m.

Wed. 4, vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.

Fri. 6, vs. Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Wed. 11, vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

Fri. 13, vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.

Sun. 15, AT Denver, 6 p.m.

Tue. 17, AT Golden State, 7:30 p.m.

Wed. 18, AT L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m.

Sat. 21, AT Portland, 7 p.m.

Mon. 23, AT Sacramento, 7 p.m.

Fri. 27, vs. Denver, 7 p.m.

Sat. 28, AT Houston, 7 p.m.

Mon. 30, vs. Portland, 7 p.m.

January

Wed. 1, AT Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Fri. 3, AT Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Sat. 4, AT Indiana, 7 p.m.

Tue. 7, AT Miami, 7:30 p.m.

Wed. 8, vs. Washington, 7 p.m.

Fri. 10, vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.

Sat. 11, AT Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Mon. 13, vs. San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Wed. 15, vs. Houston, 7 p.m.

Sat. 18, vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.

Mon. 20, AT Memphis, 4 p.m.

Tue. 21, vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m.

Fri. 24, AT Detroit , 7:30 p.m.

Sun. 26, vs. Orlando, 5 p.m

Tue. 28, AT Cleveland, 7 p.m

Wed. 29, AT Minnesota, 7 p.m

February

Sat. 1, vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.

Mon. 3, vs. San Antonio, 7 p.m.

Wed. 5, vs. Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Fri. 7, vs. Minnesota, 8:30 p.m.

Sun. 9, AT Brooklyn, 6 p.m.

Mon. 10, AT Toronto, 7 p.m.

Wed. 12, AT Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Wed. 19, vs. New York, 7 p.m.

Fri. 21, AT Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Sat. 22, AT Washington, 7 p.m.

Mon. 24, vs. L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m.

Wed. 26, AT Dallas, 7 p.m.

Fri. 28, AT Phoenix, 8:30 p.m.

March

Sat. 1, AT L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m.

Mon. 3, AT Sacramento, 7 p.m.

Tue. 4, AT L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m.

Fri. 7, vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Sun. 9, vs. Denver, 5 p.m.

Wed. 12, vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.

Fri. 14, vs. Portland, 7 p.m.

Sun. 16, vs. Boston, 5 p.m.

Wed. 19, vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.

Fri. 21, AT Atlanta 7:30 p.m.

Sat. 22, vs. Miami, 7 p.m.

Mon. 24, vs. Brooklyn, 7 p.m.

Wed. 26, vs. L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m.

Fri. 28, vs. Utah, 7 p.m.

Sat. 29, AT San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Mon. 31, vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m.

April

Wed. 2, AT Denver, 7 p.m.

Fri. 4, AT Utah, 7 p.m.

Sun. 6, AT Portland, 6 p.m.

Wed. 9, vs. Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Fri. 11, AT Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Sat. 12, AT Houston, 7 p.m.

Mon. 14, vs. Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Wed. 16, vs. Houston, 7 p.m.


NBA releases New Orleans Pelicans' 2013-14 season schedule | NOLA.com

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