The NBL has scheduled a Christmas Eve game for the first time but all but abandoned its experiment with Monday night basketball.
The 2017-18 schedule, released on Wednesday, also includes the return of a Boxing Day fixture at Melbourne's Hisense Arena as the league seeks to leverage off the Ashes cricket Test at the nearby MCG.
Adelaide will start the season by hosting Melbourne United on Thursday, October 5, while Perth begin their championship defence two days later against Brisbane.
In 2016-17, the league included 10 Monday night games but cut that down to two this season, with more matches to be played on Sunday.
"We've listened to the fans who've told us they want to attend and watch games on TV on weekends," NBL boss Jeremy Loeliger said.
"This is a way of ensuring we showcase our biggest games in front of the biggest audiences."
The 36ers will host Cairns on Christmas Eve, with Melbourne and the Bullets to meet two days later.
Last season's grand finalists, the Wildcats and Illawarra, will renew their rivalry in round two.
Share
