The NBA announced the opening week schedule for the 2021-22 season, and the Los Angeles Lakers are featured in two games.
Prior to the announcement, it was reported the Lakers would battle the Golden State Warriors on opening day, which will transpire at Staples Center on TNT on Oct. 19.
The second game featuring the Lakers will be on Oct. 22 when the Phoenix Suns come to Staples Center for a Friday night showdown at 7:00 p.m. PST on ESPN.
It will be a playoff rematch between the two teams as the Suns eliminated Los Angeles in six games.
Though the core of Phoenix’s roster — Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder — is still intact, the Suns will play a completely different Lakers squad, with Russell Westbrook headlining the new arrivals.
Here’s the full opening week schedule, via NBA Communications:
The first four days of the season will feature eight national television games. Those games will showcase:
• 12 different teams
• The last eight players to win the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award
• Three rematches from last season’s playoffs. pic.twitter.com/B6ccuTTTb5— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 17, 2021
The complete 82-game schedule for the upcoming year will be announced on Friday, Aug. 20 at 12:00 p.m. PST.
