Lakers full season schedule announced, open against Clippers

The Los Angeles Lakers’ upcoming season schedule was announced, along with the rest of the NBA’s, on Tuesday night. Despite not having nearly as many expectations for this season in comparison to last, the Lakers will be featured opening night in a showdown against the Clippers. The team will immediately be tested when they travel to Golden State the following night.

The Lakers also have prime time match-ups against the Heat on Christmas Day and the Bulls on Martin Luther King Jr Day. Other notable games include the first matchup between Dwight and the Lakers (February 19), Mike Brown’s return to LA (January 14), and the rivalry against Boston (at Boston January 17, home February 21). Metta World Peace’s return to LA, which will be met with much more fanfare and joyousness, will come on March 25.

In total, the Lakers are on TNT ten times, more than any other team. The Lakers have brutal stretches to begin and end the season, starting with the Clippers, Warriors, and Spurs as their first three opponents. Their final six games of the year feature games against the Clippers, Rockets, Warriors, Grizzlies, Jazz, and Spurs. If the Lakers are on the fringe of being a playoff team, those final six games will surely test their resolve and determination.

The Lakers have 19 back-to-backs on the season, more than the 16 they had last year. The Lakers longest road trip, which occurs in mid-February, sees them travel to Phoenix, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, and New York from February 15 through the 26th.