The NBA’s regular season schedule for the upcoming season has not been released yet, but more and more details from it are being leaked.
Earlier, it was revealed that the Los Angeles Lakers will play the defending world champion Golden State Warriors in San Francisco to begin the regular season on Oct. 18.
Two nights later, the Lakers will face the Los Angeles Clippers back at Crypto.com Arena. They will then spend Christmas Day in Texas as they take on Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks that day.
On Tuesday, several more key matchups involving the Purple and Gold were leaked. The full schedule is scheduled to be made public at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
A matchup versus the no. 1 market
On Nov. 13, the Brooklyn Nets will travel to Southern California for their first of two tilts against the Lakers.
Of course, the Nets are in flux right now, as it is believed that both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving want to be traded, with Irving reportedly set on becoming a Laker.
However, there have been other reports that have suggested that both are OK with staying in Brooklyn and that the team wants to run it back.
Will the Nets still be a championship-caliber team on Nov. 13? Will Russell Westbrook still be a Laker? Or will Irving be reunited with LeBron James for a quest towards another championship?
All four games vs. the Clippers are set
For years, many have been trying to manufacture a rivalry between the Lakers and Clippers, but a true rivalry between them won’t become official until they’ve played each other at least once in the playoffs.
For now, fans will have to settle for four regular season matchups between LA’s two NBA squads.
The dates for all four matchups have been set.
The Lakers have had a very poor record against the Clippers during the last 10 seasons. With the addition of John Wall, the trades for Robert Covington and Norman Powell last season plus the return of Kawhi Leonard from an ACL injury, Clippers fans are brimming with confidence that may be bordering on arrogance.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis will surely want some revenge against them once the season starts.
Homecomings for James and Darwin Ham
The Lakers’ new head coach is Darvin Ham, a Michigan native who spent the last four seasons as a member of Mike Budenholzer’s staff on the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ham will return to Wisconsin on Dec. 2, as LA will head there to take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the 2021 NBA champions.
Another date on the calendar that is always interesting is James’ annual visit to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team he has spent most of his professional career with.
The Akron, Ohio native will be there on Dec. 6.
Last season, the Lakers had one of their few entertaining wins of the season in March over the Cavs on the road, as James put on a show with 38 points on 17-of-29 shooting, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
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Story originally appeared on LeBron Wire