NBA Opening Night Games Reportedly Revealed
By Jerry Trotta
A little over 24 hours after the NBA's highly-touted slate of Christmas Day games were leaked, the Association's reported plans for opening night of the 2019-2020 season on Oct.22 have been revealed.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, the new-look Lakers will battle it out on the Staples Center floor with the fellow city rejects-turned-powerhouse Clippers. In addition, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans will square off against the Kawhi Leonard-less Raptors.
Expected opening night of 2019-20 NBA season: Oct. 22, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 3, 2019
Planned games for opening night: Los Angeles Lakers/LA Clippers and Toronto Raptors/New Orleans Pelicans.
It might not be the star-studded lineup that Christmas is prepared to offer but a Clippers-Lakers melee right off the bat should HYPE up the common basketball fan. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, and The Claw all potentially on the same court at one time? Count us IN.
Elsewhere, we will be treated to the inception of the Zion era in New Orleans while the city of Toronto attempts to cope with life without Kawhi. If that narrative doesn't entice you, we don't know what will.
Mark your calendars for October 22nd.
— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) August 3, 2019
? NBA Opening Night ?
Lakers vs. Clippers
Raptors vs. Pelicans
(per @ShamsCharania) pic.twitter.com/jS1mtrKRjt
Opening night has the potential to set the precedent for what promises to be the most compelling NBA regular season in quite some time. Get your popcorn ready, folks.