MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks are going to have an afternoon tip-off for their Oct. 23 home opener with the Chicago Bulls to avoid a direct conflict with Game 1 of the World Series, which is taking place in Milwaukee that evening.
The Bucks announced Friday their home opener would take place at 3 p.m. Central time rather than 7 p.m. Bucks officials said they worked with the NBA office to make the schedule change possible.
The Milwaukee Brewers will be hosting either the Cleveland Guardians or Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series that night. The Brewers had earned home-field advantage throughout the playoffs by having the best regular-season record in the major leagues, and they clinched their first World Series berth since 1982 on Thursday by completing an NL Championship Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The Brewers’ return to the World Series for the first time in 44 years is a special moment for Milwaukee and sports fans across Wisconsin,” the Bucks said in a statement. “Congratulations to the Brewers and the entire organization on this tremendous achievement, and we’ll be cheering them on as they begin their World Series run. The Bucks are proud to move our home opener to 3 p.m. in recognition of this historic occasion and thank the NBA for making this schedule change possible.”
The Bucks are opening their season Wednesday at Washington.
The Bucks also have another potential World Series scheduling issue. They’re scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers the night of Oct. 31, which is when Game 7 would take place in Milwaukee if the World Series goes the distance.
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