Seems kinda like old times.
The Utah Jazz get to see some old friends in their preseason schedule, which was announced Wednesday.
Following their preseason opener Oct. 8, a first-ever trip to Andrei Kirilenko territory against his old Russian Central Army Team (CSKA) in Moscow, the Jazz will visit John Stockton's hometown of Spokane, Wash.
Maybe the reclusive retiree will attend the game with the Seattle Sonics on Oct. 17 in Spokane Arena. The Jazz don't know if he will, but they like to stay in touch with that area, going there instead of Boise this preseason.
Other than Moscow's Universal Sports Hall, that will be the only Jazz preseason game in a non-NBA arena.
The Jazz preseason schedule includes the regular two home games in the Delta Center, the first against New York. The second, against Sacramento on Oct. 22, will be the first chance to see former Jazzman Greg Ostertag in a Kings jersey.
Utah then will meet the NBA-champion Detroit Pistons, new signee Mehmet Okur's former team, on Oct. 24 in the Palace of Auburn Hills.
That game kicks off what for the past four or five years has been a regular three-game Eastern road swing for Utah, left over from the days when former Jazz executive Scott Layden was with the New York Knicks. The Jazz will play at the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 26 and conclude the preseason with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 28.
The Jazz regular season begins Nov. 3 when they are host to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The other preseason game is at Phoenix on Oct. 20.
Jazz training camp begins a bit early this season because of the Moscow trip, which also means the regular season starts a little late. Camp opens Sept. 30 at the Zions Bank Basketball Center.
2004 Utah Jazz preseason schedule
DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME ARENA
Oct. 8 CSKA (Russian Army) Moscow, Russia TBA Universal Sports Hall
Oct. 17 Seattle Sonics Spokane. Wash. 5 p.m. Spokane Arena
Oct. 19 New York Knicks Salt Lake City 7 p.m. Delta Center
Oct. 20 Phoenix Suns Phoenix 7 p.m. America West Arena
Oct. 22 Sacramento Kings Salt Lake City 7 p.m. Delta Center
Oct. 24 Detroit Pistons Auburn Hills 5:30 p.m. Palace of Auburn Hills
Oct. 26 Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia 5 p.m. Wachovia Center
Oct. 28 New York Knicks New York City 5:30 p.m. Madison Square Garden
All times Mountain
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