The NBA tells us that algorithms play a big role in determining the 1,230-game schedule each season, but some marquee matchups on prominent dates clearly are national TV network mandated.

Then there are games like Mavericks at Lakers next Feb. 12. Unnoticed by virtually everyone, including yours truly, when the schedule was released last week, it’s an NBA stroke of genius. Definitely not an algorithm. Someone creative and big-brained came up with this.

Please allow us to elaborate. Mavs-Lakers is a marquee matchup regardless, but this site and date are sublime. February 12 is Thursday and All-Star weekend begins the following day – a mere 13 miles away, at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome.

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When a city hosts All-Star Weekend, the host team always has to take an extended road trip while the NBA brings in and stages entertainment elements like lights and sound and builds in extra days for rehearsals. Sure enough, the Clippers’ last home game before the All-Star break is Feb. 4.

But in this season’s case, the All-Star Weekend host city has two teams and two arenas, which will make that Thursday night Mavericks-Lakers game the unofficial start of All-Star festivities, with fans and basketball dignitaries arriving from around the world. To say that will be a hot ticket is a massive understatement. And it’ll be broadcast on Amazon Prime.

And as a bonus for the Mavericks, any player who will be part of All-Star Weekend gets the gift of an extremely short commute. Looking at you, Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg.

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